The American oilfield services company NOV and the Brazilian state-owned energy company Petrobras $PETR3 (-1,84%)
$PETR4 (-1,25%) have signed a pre-commercial agreement to develop flexible pipes for deepwater applications with high CO2 content.
The collaboration, formalized with the signing of an agreement in February, focuses on the development of stainless steel armor to combat CO2-induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC), described as a persistent challenge in subsea oil and gas operations.
Under the terms of the agreement, Petrobras will invest in the development and qualification of this new technology and work closely with NOV to ensure the solution meets stringent industry standards.
The focus will be on the development of 6-inch and 8-inch production and gas injection risers and flowlines that can withstand high CO2 levels in deepwater applications.
According to NOV, the technology also aims to preserve the key characteristics of standard flexible pipes, such as ease of installation and compatibility with existing vessels and infrastructure, ensuring minimal disruption and cost-effective integration into Petrobras' field developments.
