Based in Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras is a leader in the Brazilian oil sector, and the largest corporation in Brazil. The company specialises in the exploration, production, processing and distribution of oil, gas and energy, and is active in 27 countries.

Through its subsidiary Transpetro, Petrobras operates a pipeline network of over 11,000 km, including oil, product and gas pipelines, which interconnect Brazilian regions and supply the most remote parts of the country. The pipeline network links in to receiving and processing terminals as well as a 53-strong oil tanker fleet – and Petrobras has plans to expand. A program is underway for a further 49 tankers.

Operations

Petrobras and Transpetro operate more than 4,500 km of gas pipelines with a total transport capacity of 77 million cubic metres per day (MMcm/d). Petrobras said that the use of natural gas is a recent development in Brazil. The market for natural gas gained momentum with the start-up of the Bolivia – Brazil Pipeline. Since then, the gas pipeline network continues to grow steadily.

Petrobas is the main partner of TBG, Transportadora Brasileira Gasoducto Bolivia-Brasil S.A., which owns and operates the Brazilian portion of the Bolivia – Brazil Pipeline. Approximately 2,593 km of the pipeline is located in Brazil which operates at a 30 MMcm/d capacity.

A Petrobras spokesperson said “Before the [Bolivia – Brazil Pipeline] only modest volumes of gas were carried to supply Petrobras-owned operations and a few pioneer industries. But the gas pipeline network since then has grown and is continuing to do so much faster than the oil and product pipelines.”

The companies’ other 7,000 km of pipelines transport 670 MMcm/a of oil and products. Multi-product pipelines, also carrying ethanol, have been in operation for 30 years.

In addition, Petrobras subsidiary Petrobras E&P operates offshore production pipelines which include approximately 4,000 km of rigid and 5,000 km of flexible pipelines.

Transpetro has created the National Centre for Pipeline Repair (CREDUTO), which specialises in the repair and maintenance of the company’s pipelines. CREDUTO also functions as a research and training centre, and develops new solutions. Transpetro’s pipeline operators undertake approximately two years of extensive training, through the Corporate University and the company itself. The training includes classroom, field and control centre placements, and thorough training at a state-of-the-art simulator.

The Petrobras Research Centre, which aims to develop customised technological solutions for Petrobras Group companies, also manages the Transportation Technology Program. The Program has executed almost 60 projects in areas such as corrosion and integrity management, inspection, leak detection, and pipeline design and construction.

Pipeline innovations

The biggest innovation in pipeline technology for Petrobras has been the automation of monitoring and operation at Transpetro’s control centre (CNCO) in Rio de Janeiro, which is one of the largest fuel transport monitoring and operation centres in the world. The CNCO operates through a SCADA system which allows highly trained and certified operators to control the company’s pipelines and compression stations in real time.

The company’s Pipeline Integrity Program has also had a major impact on the efficiency and reliability of the network. The program was launched in 2002 and targets the environmental management and operational safety of pipelines owned by Petrobras and Transpetro.

Current projects

Petrobras’ main focus at the moment is the 660 km Urucu – Manaus Gas Pipeline. Its route traverses the heart of the Amazon jungle, beginning in the oil and gas basin of Urucu and extending to the city of Manaus. The pipeline is currently under construction despite inherent difficulties involved with working through the jungle, and with utmost concern to minimise environmental impact. Initially its capacity will be 5 MMcm/d of gas.

Innovative logistical and pipelaying solutions were required to meet the challenges of construction and future operation of a pipeline in a region that is flooded for six months of the year. Petrobras said that lessons learned as a result of the challenges the company faced will be invaluable for future projects with similar characteristics.

The Urucu – Manaus Gas Pipeline is expected to become operational by the end of 2009.

Further expansions

Petrobras has expansion plans for its transmission pipeline network. By 2013, the company aims to have constructed 2,400km of new gas pipelines and approximately 1,000 km of new oil and products pipelines. In addition, Petrobras has interests in some 2,000 km of dedicated ethanol pipelines currently under feasibility study in Brazil.

The company is excited about an increase its crude oil production levels, which Petrobras anticipates will require a substantial expansion in the oil pipeline network. Petrobras also predicts a growth in the natural gas market and economic development, both factors that will drive expansion in its oil, gas and products pipeline networks.