Paraíba do Sul River Erosion Study and Pipeline Protection Design
Severe riverbank erosion along the Rio Paraíba do Sul near Caçapava, São Paulo State, posed a significant threat to the existing 28-inch GASCAR pipeline. NHC was engaged to investigate and document the erosion processes affecting the site and develop a long-term protection solution.
FIPAI/Petrobras Transporte S.A. (Transpetro)
Streams & Rivers
São Paulo, Brazil
NHC’s assessment revealed that the river channel had undergone substantial changes driven primarily by human activity, combined with natural geomorphic processes. Over time, these changes reduced the distance between the active riverbank and the pipeline by approximately 50 metres, leaving only nine metres of separation by 2013 and creating an unacceptable risk to pipeline integrity.
To protect the pipeline from continued bank erosion and channel degradation, NHC designed approximately 320 metres of riprap riverbank stabilization. The innovative solution not only safeguarded critical energy infrastructure but also minimized environmental impacts during construction and reduced anticipated construction time. The project established a new benchmark for pipeline protection design in Brazil while providing a resilient, long-term erosion management solution.
Provided a cost-effective, constructible, and environmentally sensitive design that reduced project duration and ensured the long-term reliability of critical pipeline infrastructure.
