Operation at Porto de Sergipe power plant highlights potential for subsea engineering in different energy matrix contexts
The growing demand for natural gas in Brazil reinforces the importance of technical solutions capable of ensuring stability and efficiency in projects linked to the country’s energy matrix. In 2024, daily natural gas consumption in Brazil reached52.5 million cubic meters, with a22.9% increase in the power generation sector, according to data from Abegás.
This scenario requires increasingly robust infrastructure. Although subsea engineering is traditionally associated with the oil and gas sector, Brazil has companies with solid expertise in this field and the capability to operate across different segments of the energy chain. A prime example is Seagems, which, in partnership with Eneva, carried out a critical maintenance operation on the subsea pipeline of the Porto de Sergipe thermoelectric power plant—one of the largest natural gas-fired energy generation projects in the country.
Subsea Maintenance Enables Plant to Resume Operations
During the operation, which was completed in December 2024, a leak was identified in the subsea riser that is part of the plant’s supply system. Seagems was called in to carry out an emergency operation toreplace the damaged section of the pipeline, ensuring the safe and swift resumption of the plant’s operations. The company deployed specialized vessels and technical teams to execute the repair with a high degree of precision and within a short timeframe, minimizing the impact on the national power supply system.
From Oil and Gas to New Technical Opportunities in the Energy Sector
The operation in Sergipe was a timely opportunity for Seagems to apply its subsea engineering experience—honed in highly complex offshore projects—to a new context within the energy matrix. This experience highlights the potential of Brazilian companies to contribute efficiently to diverse demands in the sector.
“We have a solid foundation built over years of working in the oil and gas industry. This allows us to offer safe and effective solutions in other areas of the energy industry as well,” says Marcos Adriano, Superintendent of Special Projects at Seagems.
Direct Impacts of the Operation
The intervention conducted by Seagems was key to restarting the plant’s operations and brought several benefits, including:
Rapid infrastructure restoration, reducing downtime;
Prevention of operational risksand reinforcement of subsea system integrity;
Contribution to energy supply securityduring a period of high demand;
Demonstration of the technical potential of Brazilian subsea engineeringto serve diverse contexts within the energy matrix.
Expanding Energy Infrastructure and New Technical Opportunities
According to the Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan (PDE 2032), the demand for natural gas in Brazil is expected to grow by up to 23% in the coming years, increasing the need for modernization and maintenance of existing infrastructure.
This scenario creates opportunities for technically qualified companies like Seagems to contribute across various areas of the national energy sector, whenever there is synergy between demand, scope, and expertise.
Growing Demand and Sector Challenges
With the rising consumption of natural gas, ensuring the safety of infrastructure has become critical to avoid disruptions in energy supply. In addition to fluctuations in hydroelectric generation, decarbonization policies have driven the use of natural gas as an efficient alternative across multiple generation contexts. To support this growth, investments in the maintenance and modernization of existing structures will become increasingly strategic.
“Each scenario requires a tailor-made solution, and our role is to use our accumulated experience to adapt technologies and methods to the needs of each operation. This project was an opportunity to show how Brazilian subsea engineering can respond with agility and excellence,” concludes Marcos Adriano.