Petrobras has awarded Strohm B.V. and its subsidiary Strohm Brasil a contract to supply thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP) for the Brazilian post-salt cluster, with deployment planned at water depths of up to 1500 m.

The agreement covers more than pipe supply. It includes qualification testing, project engineering, field services, and support for offshore trials and installation. The TCP will serve water injection and gas lift applications offshore Brazil.

How will the pipe be proven?

During the project, Petrobras will assess the TCP under actual operating conditions. The evaluation covers the pipe's handling characteristics and its ability to be installed from typical pipe lay vessels already operating in the Petrobras fleet — a practical test of whether spoolable composite line can slot into existing offshore logistics.

Strohm manufactures TCP from a fibre — carbon or glass — combined with a polymer matrix of polyethylene or polyamide. The resulting product is lighter and easier to handle than the flexible or rigid steel pipe solutions the industry has traditionally used offshore.

The company lists three operational advantages for the technology:

• Spoolable, non-corrosive construction
• Long-term reliability with no associated maintenance costs
• Continued ability to run pipeline integrity inspection

For an operator managing a large portfolio of mature offshore fields, the corrosion argument matters. Flexible and rigid steel lines offshore Brazil carry inspection and replacement burdens that non-metallic alternatives aim to strip out of the lifecycle cost equation.

What did the companies say?

Renato Bastos, vice president of Strohm Brasil, framed the award as both an endorsement and a stepping stone. "Winning this contract is a significant endorsement of Strohm's technology and capabilities, as well as an important milestone in our roadmap, paving the way to further developments in country," Bastos said.

He noted the weight of the counterparty: "Petrobras is a recognised expert in flexible pipe solutions, and we are proud to have earned their confidence in our TCP products and our team's expertise. It is a clear reflection of how Strohm has matured into a professional supplier of high-performance flexible pipe solutions, with the capabilities and expertise to meet the industry's growing demand for advanced and reliable products."

Strohm CEO Martin van Onna pointed to the commercial relationship behind the deal. "This contract award is a testament to the strong collaboration between our two companies and demonstrates Petrobras' commitment to bringing advanced pipe technology into its operations to improve operational efficiency and reduce production costs," van Onna said.

The cost-reduction language from the operator's supplier is just that — supplier commentary — but it aligns with Petrobras' publicly stated drive to lower lifting costs across its post-salt and pre-salt portfolio.

What comes next?

The watch items are the qualification testing results and the offshore trials themselves. Strohm must show the TCP performs under actual operating conditions at up to 1500 m water depth and installs cleanly from Petrobras' pipe lay vessels. A successful trial run would open the door to the "further developments in country" that Bastos referenced; a stumble would hand the incumbent flexible pipe suppliers their rebuttal. No contract value or delivery schedule was disclosed.