Vallourec will launch a new research center in Rio de Janeiro, expected to be operational next month. The Rio center will focus on all pre-salt activities. Located next to Petrobras’ CENPES research center in the Technological Park of Rio de Janeiro, the Rio center will allow Vallourec to work even more closely with the Brazilian national oil company on the needs for pre-salt fields, which are characterized by extreme pressure, temperature, and corrosion conditions.