Baker Hughes Awarded First Technology Agreement With Petrobras To Develop Definitive Solution for Pipeline Corrosion

• Next-generation flexible pipes to offer 30-year service life in high CO2 environment

HOUSTON and LONDON, March 27, 2025 /3BL/ - Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, announced a joint technology development program with Petrobras to provide a definitive solution for stress corrosion cracking due to CO₂ (SCC-CO2) in flexible pipe systems.

The pre-commercial agreement encompasses development and testing, as well as a purchase option of the resulting next-generation flexible pipes, which will have an extended service life of 30 years in high-CO₂ environments. The collaborative effort between Baker Hughes and Petrobras will be primarily executed at Baker Hughes’ Rio de Janeiro Energy Technology Innovation Center and nearby flexible pipe systems manufacturing plant.

“Baker Hughes has led the way in addressing SCC-CO2, and we will bring that expertise and experience to bear in developing the definitive solution to this critical industry challenge,” said Amerino Gatti, executive vice president, Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes. “By deploying flexible pipe systems that last for decades, Petrobras can more efficiently unlock the vital natural resources that power the region, while also safely returning CO₂ deep underground.”

SCC-CO2 was identified in 2016 and can affect flexible pipes in pre-salt fields, which have high concentrations of naturally occurring CO₂. If water penetrates a pipe’s annulus area, the resulting corrosion to steel reinforcement layers can weaken structural integrity and reduce the system’s lifespan. This issue is particularly acute in Brazil’s pre-salt fields, where Petrobras is reinjecting CO₂ from their production operations into wells to reduce flaring and enhance oil recovery. Petrobras has committed to limiting atmospheric emissions, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is an important tool for achieving this goal.

Until now, operators in high-CO₂ environments have relied on solutions that mitigate the impact of SCC-CO2 while limiting the service life of risers and flowlines. Baker Hughes flexible pipe systems and advanced monitoring technologies have proven effective at minimizing this impact, and the company is a major supplier of flexible pipe systems to Petrobras.

Baker Hughes has been deeply involved in the development of Brazil’s offshore oil and gas fields for decades, and its localization strategy contributes to the nation’s economy while strengthening its energy supply chain.

About Baker Hughes 
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

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Brian Reynolds 
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