March 25, 2025 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- Baker Hughes, a leading energy technology company, has announced a joint technology development program with Petrobras to deliver a definitive solution for stress corrosion cracking due to CO2 (SCC-CO2) in flexible pipe systems.

The pre-commercial agreement includes development, testing, and a purchase option for the next-generation flexible pipes, which will be engineered to provide an extended service life of 30 years in high-CO2 environments. The collaboration will be primarily carried out at Baker Hughes’ Rio de Janeiro Energy Technology Innovation Centre and its nearby flexible pipe manufacturing plant.

Addressing SCC-CO2 Challenges in Pre-Salt Fields

First identified in 2016, SCC-CO2 affects flexible pipes in pre-salt fields, where naturally occurring CO2 concentrations are high. If water enters a pipe’s annulus area, it can lead to corrosion of steel reinforcement layers, compromising structural integrity and reducing the lifespan of risers and flowlines.

This issue is particularly relevant in Brazil’s pre-salt fields, where Petrobras is actively reinjected CO2 from production operations to reduce flaring and enhance oil recovery efforts. Petrobras has committed to limiting atmospheric emissions, making carbon capture, utilisation, and storage a critical tool for achieving its sustainability objectives.

Advancing Flexible Pipe Technology

Until now, operators in high-CO2 environments have relied on solutions that mitigate SCC-CO2 impacts while limiting the service life of risers and flowlines. Baker Hughes’ flexible pipe systems and advanced monitoring technologies have proven effective in minimizing SCC-CO2 effects, and the company remains a key supplier of flexible pipe systems