About the Journal
Aims and scope
The Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras (BGP) is a scientific journal dedicated to publishing original research in various fields of petroleum geosciences. Its scope covers the analysis and evaluation of sedimentary basins, geological modeling, geophysical interpretation, organic geochemistry, sedimentology and stratigraphy, structural geology and geodynamics, petrophysics, reserve and resource estimation, data management, and geoscience technologies. Additionally, the BGP explores topics related to other energy sources and the geological storage of gases. Thus, the bulletin serves as a crucial platform for disseminating knowledge and innovation.
Periodicity
The Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras (BGP) began its quarterly publications in 1987, averaging 12 articles per issue until 1990. From 1991 to 2014, it was published semiannually. Suspended in 2015, the BGP resumes in 2024 with continuous publication, forming a volume for every 10 articles published.
Article types
The Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras publishes Research papers, Short notes and Review papers.
Short Notes address subjects that are either straightforward or of specialized interest, including instrumental techniques. They can present negative outcomes, unusual findings, or concise measurements in specific contexts. The format is similar to that of full papers. Manuscripts should be no more than ten pages in length, including references and diagrams.
Peer review
The BGP follows to a single-anonymized review process, where reviewers are aware of the author's identity, but the author does not know who the reviewers are. All submission will first be evaluated by our editors to determine if it is suitable for publication in this journal. If deemed appropriate, it will typically be sent to at least two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of its scientific quality. The final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of your article rests with our editors. Authors wishing to contest the editorial decision on their manuscript can submit a formal appeal request to editorial team: cc-boletimgeociencias-bgp@petrobras.com.br
Our editors do not participate in decisions about papers that:
• They have authored themselves.
• Are authored by family members or colleagues.
• Concern products or services in which they have a vested interest.
Such submissions will undergo the usual procedures, with peer review managed independently of the involved editor and their research group. Reviewers are chosen by editors based on their expertise in the manuscript's topics and methods, as well as their proven track record in evaluating previous manuscripts. They are instructed to follow the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidance for reviewers (COPE Ethical guidelines for peer reviewers — English. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.9),
Evaluation Guidelines
BGP provides below its guidelines and the form used in the evaluation process, available for download.
Special issues
The peer review process for special issues follows the same procedure as regular submissions. However, a guest editor will send the submissions to the reviewers and recommend a decision to the journal's Editor-in-Chief. The Editor-in-Chief supervises the peer review process for all special issues to guarantee high standards of publishing ethics and responsiveness are maintained and is responsible for the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of articles.
Open access
The BGP offers unrestricted and immediate access to all its content. There are no fees or financial contributions required from authors, users, or institutions. Authors are invited to submit articles, and if accepted, they are published at no cost. All users and institutions have the ability to access, read, download, copy, distribute, print, or search the full text of the published articles.
History
Due to Petrobras' impressive oil exploration achievements, a dedicated platform was needed to highlight the expertise of its geologists and geophysicists. In 1987, the Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras (BGP) was launched to publish original studies on petroleum geosciences, technological advancements, and scientific research.
Published semiannually in May and November, the BGP welcomed contributions from the geoscientific community. Its printed format was distributed to institutions in 48 countries. Between 2017 and 2021, it recorded almost 1 million accesses in its online version. The BGP was previously indexed in key bibliographic databases like API, Petroleum Abstract (Tulsa), Compendex, Chemical Abstract, GeoRef, Scopus (Elsevier), and Energy Science.
Publishing timeline
We are resuming the publications of the Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras. Once the first editions are published, we will provide more details on the average time for each stage of the editorial process. Currently, considering the defined deadlines, we expect the period between submission and the first online publication to be approximately 22 weeks.
Financing Institution
Petrobras – Petróleo Brasileiro SA
ETHICS AND POLICIES
Submission declaration
When authors submit an article to the Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras, it is understood that:
• The work described has not been previously published, except in the form of an abstract, a published lecture, an academic thesis, or a registered report.
• The article is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
• The publication of the article is approved by all authors and, either tacitly or explicitly, by the responsible authorities where the work was conducted.
• If accepted, the article will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in Portuguese, English, or any other language, including electronically.
Submissions must meet the following requirements:
For Petrobras authors:
• Comply with legal requirements in the use of geological and geophysical data externally to the Company, following current internal standards, and attach proof of authorization for data publication.
• Follow Petrobras' internal guidelines regarding the external disclosure of project results carried out through Cooperation Terms and Agreements between Petrobras and scientific and technological institutions (ICT) or companies and attach proof of authorization.
For all authors:
• This submission meets the requirements described in the Guidelines for Authors.
• All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
• All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
• Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets, and other materials provided with this submission.
Authorship
Each author should have made substantial contributions to the study’s conception and elaboration, data acquisition, or data analysis and interpretation. Furthermore, authors must have participated in writing the article or revising it critically for significant intellectual content. Finally, all authors need to approve the final version for submission.
Authors are also required to accept responsibility for every aspect of the work, ensuring that any queries about the accuracy or integrity of any part are thoroughly examined and addressed.
Changes to authorship
The editors of BGP generally do not accept changes to authorship after manuscript submission. Any request for a change in authorship must be made by the corresponding author, who must provide the journal editor with the reason for the request, along with written confirmation from all authors, including those being added or removed, that they agree with the addition, removal, or rearrangement. Authors should carefully consider and finalize the authorship list and order before the initial submission.
Disclosure Statement
All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships with individuals or organizations that could influence or bias their work. The disclosure statement should indicate whether there are any potential conflicts of interest, specifying the source and nature if they exist. To avoid ambiguity, authors must explicitly state whether competing interests are present or not, and you may be required to provide this statement even if no competing interests exist.
Funding sources
Authors should disclose any funding or research grants, along with their sources, received during the course of the study, research, or manuscript preparation.
Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing
Authors must declare the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in scientific writing when submitting their articles. This declaration does not apply to basic tools such as grammar, spelling, and reference checkers. If there is nothing to disclose, no specific statement is required.
It also does not apply to the use of AI tools for analyzing and extracting insights from data as part of the research process. In such cases, the methods used should be discussed as part of the work in the appropriate section.
Regarding the use of these tools in the writing process, we recommend the following:
• Generative AI tools and AI-assisted technologies should only be used to improve the clarity and language of the manuscript.
• These tools must be used under human supervision and control; authors should carefully review and edit the generated content, as AI can produce authoritative-sounding material that may be incorrect, incomplete, or biased. Authors are ultimately responsible for the final content of the work.
• AI tools and AI-assisted technologies should not be listed or credited as authors or co-authors on the manuscript, as authorship implies responsibilities and roles that can only be attributed to humans.
The Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras prohibits the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies, such as ChatGPT or similar services, by reviewers or editors during the peer review and manuscript evaluation process. This policy aims to protect authors' rights and the confidentiality of their research. The editorial team is actively monitoring discussions on the use of AI and may revise this policy in the future. The journal follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding authorship and AI tools.
Policy for Plagiarism Verification
The editorial process of the Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras begins with a screening for plagiarism, duplicate or redundant publication using anti-plagiarism software CopySpider, and for image manipulation. If plagiarism or fraudulent image manipulation is detected, the paper is deemed unacceptable by the editorial team. Additionally, peer reviewers are asked to assess research and publication ethics issues, such as whether the research was conducted and reported ethically, or if they have any suspicions of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or redundant publication.
In cases of scientific misconduct, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, falsification or fabrication of data, misuse of references or citations, duplicity, and authorship disputes, the editorial practice follows the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Plagiarism is defined as the deliberate copying, in whole or in part, of another's intellectual work without proper attribution. Self-plagiarism refers to the use, in whole or in part, of one's own previously published work without proper identification.
Publishing criteria
Successful research articles should demonstrate the qualities listed below. This list guides editorial decisions and helps authors identify weaknesses. Authors can use it as a checklist to prepare their paper for submission.
Criteria 1 through 6 pertain to the technical quality of the work and how it is presented:
1. The paper has a clear and well-justified purpose.
2. Research questions or hypotheses are clearly stated and addressed.
3. The scientific methods and analysis are robust and competent.
4. Data presentation is distinct from interpretation.
5. There is sufficient data to support the conclusions.
6. Arguments, data tables, and figures are clear and accessible.
Criteria 7 to 10 evaluate the impact, novelty, and intellectual value of the paper:
7. The broad, generic importance of the work is adequately explained.
8. The work contains novel elements with innovative aims, hypotheses or methods.
9. The paper represents an important advance in the field with outcomes that are significant and that add to our scientific understanding of geosciences.
10. The material has not been published previously.
