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Presented on the final day of Rio Pipeline & Logistics, projects by Equinor, TotalEnergies, and Petrobras will boost the economy and meet the growing energy demand in South America.

The last day of Rio Pipeline & Logistics highlighted the dynamism of the energy industry with the unveiling of new large-scale offshore projects. In a panel held on Thursday morning (11), executives from Equinor, TotalEnergies, and Petrobras detailed the development of strategic assets aimed at enhancing energy security and stimulating the local industry in South America through partnerships and innovative engineering solutions.

The Raia Project, operated by Equinor (35%) in partnership with Repsol Sinopec (35%) and Petrobras (30%) in the Campos Basin, was one of the highlights. Scheduled to begin operations in 2028, the field will have the capacity to deliver 16 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, potentially supplying up to 15% of Brazil’s national demand. Part of the federal government’s Novo PAC program, the project stands out for its strong local content: over 99% of the 20,000 tons of steel used in the pipeline and FPSO are sourced from domestic production.

The Lapa South West project, presented by Leonardo Simões, TotalEnergies’ New Projects and Facilities Manager, foresees an investment of about US$1 billion to connect new wells to an existing FPSO in the Santos Basin. The initiative will increase the field’s production by 25,000 barrels of oil per day and exemplifies the company’s strategy of prioritizing low-cost, low-emission assets while optimizing existing infrastructure.

The Sirius Project, detailed by Rafael Solano, Senior Consultant at Petrobras, represents a natural gas discovery in Colombia in partnership with Ecopetrol. Currently in the development phase, the project involves the construction of the country’s first long-distance subsea pipeline, stretching 115 km to the continental coast. It has the potential to ensure Colombia’s energy security for decades to come.

TAG Launches Platform with Daily Gas Trading Operations

During CEO Talks, Tomaz Guadagnin (photo), CEO of Transportadora Associada de Gás (TAG), highlighted the strategic role of natural gas for Brazil and announced a new company product. In partnership with S&P Global Platts, TAG launched a platform that publishes daily gas purchase and sale transactions. “We will start making the daily price of traded gas available, bringing greater transparency to our clients,” Guadagnin said.

The executive emphasized that the company follows the debate on tariff reduction with a constant focus on legal and regulatory security, contributing to sector stability and informed decision-making. He also highlighted the benefits of natural gas, such as flexibility and the quick activation of thermal power plants, as well as the potential for gas storage — a practice already consolidated in Europe but still at an early stage in Brazil.

To ensure efficiency and safety, TAG has invested R$1.7 billion in maintenance and modernization of its network in recent years. Among the expansion projects under study are the Sergipe Deepwater and Veredas projects, the latter aimed at increasing gas supply between Pernambuco and Ceará.

Focused on increasing market liquidity, TAG is finalizing the MAGO Project (Automated Monitoring of Operational Management), expected to be launched by December. Based on technology already in use in France, the platform will give users instant visibility into operations across the gas pipeline network.

Artificial Intelligence in Pipeline Monitoring

The session “Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis for Failure Monitoring and Prevention” demonstrated how advanced technologies are transforming failure detection and risk prevention in pipelines.

Stephan Eule, Senior AI Specialist at ROSEN, presented applications of artificial intelligence in microwave systems capable of identifying cracks, corrosion, and metal loss. He pointed out that manual analysis of a 100 km pipeline could take up to six months, whereas AI already significantly reduces this timeframe, generating status rankings and validating results with databases containing over 100,000 records.

Igor Caetano Diniz, founder of DynaML, drew attention to the challenges of training and applying the technology, stressing that AI’s value lies in viable, productizable solutions, with a focus on feature engineering, collaborative work, and mastery of frameworks and best development practices. Ana Paula Gomes, from Enivibes, presented the use of algorithms for pipeline performance analysis using vibroacoustic technology. Sensors installed along the assets allow real-time leak detection and structural resilience assessment, increasing operational reliability.

About Rio Pipeline & Logistics
Rio Pipeline & Logistics takes place at ExpoRio Cidade Nova from September 9 to 11 and is sponsored by Petrobras (Master Sponsor); TAG, TBG, and Transpetro (Diamond Sponsors); NTS and Tenaris (Platinum Sponsors); TechnipFMC (Gold Sponsor); Rosen (Silver Sponsor); and SLB + Enivibes, Solar Turbines, Tory Tech, Energia Latam, and Ecopetrol (Bronze Sponsors). The event has a Strategic Partnership with the Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Energy and Sea Economy, and institutional support from ABCM, Abegás, AbesPetro, Abimaq, ABICAM, ABRACO, ABTL, AHK, Arpel, ATP, CTDUT, EIC, and Energeo. Media partners include Eixos, Offshore, Oil & Gas Journal, Petro & Química, PTJ, TN Petróleo, and World Pipelines.