The oil and gas industry in Brazil is going through a cycle of investment recovery, increasing regulatory requirements and preparation for new offshore projects. Service and construction companies such as Private Oil & Gas are structuring their entry into the offshore market from 2026 onward, while expanding their onshore operations with a focus on operational safety and asset compliance.
Interview on Petronotícias:
For equipment and spare parts suppliers, this scenario concentrates demand on three main fronts:
regulatory compliance at onshore plants
expansion of offshore operations
development of the Equatorial Margin
Shift in Maintenance, From Reactive to Preventive
Over the past two years, construction companies operating in oil and gas have concentrated their efforts on operational safety. Private Oil & Gas itself gained ground by working at plants shut down by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), correcting compliance deficiencies within timeframes compatible with the regulator's requirements, as reported in an interview with the portal Petronotícias.
Interview:
Following these cases, operators began seeking support ahead of ANP audits, reducing the risk of nonconformities and shutdowns. This movement reinforces a central point: preventive maintenance programs reduce operating costs, extend asset service life and prevent unplanned shutdowns with a high financial impact.
For spare parts suppliers, the impact is direct:
orders are no longer concentrated in emergency purchases
annual maintenance programs come to require permanent stocks of spare parts, safety components, instrumentation and certified consumables
Operational Safety, Demand in Three Areas
NR 12 Compliance and Machine Guarding
NR 12, Occupational Safety in Machinery and Equipment, sets technical references and minimum protection requirements for machinery and equipment in all phases of use.
NR 12:
In practice, compliance involves:
machinery inventory and risk analysis
implementation of protective devices
use of certified and traceable components
Typical spare parts demand includes:
certified proximity sensors
pneumatic actuators compliant with ISO standards
solenoid valves with documented response times
testing and calibration equipment
sealing assemblies and sealing components
Preventive maintenance plans usually call for replacing critical components at intervals of around 12 to 24 months, in line with manufacturer recommendations and audit criteria.
Firefighting Systems
Service companies report strong activity in upgrading fire networks in states such as Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará, based on operational safety projects carried out for onshore operators, as described by Private Oil & Gas in the interview with Petronotícias.
Interview:
Fire protection systems in production units combine multiple components with well-defined inspection and maintenance cycles, for example:
ABC, CO₂ and special powder extinguishers, with periodic inspection and recharging after use
flame detectors and smoke detectors, with regular testing
automatic sprinklers, with visual inspections and scheduled cleaning
firefighting hoses, with pressure tests at defined intervals
quick isolation valves and alarm systems, with documented testing routines
Each component must have a serial number, test history, certification expiration date and maintenance records. This creates continuous demand for:
replacement of extinguishers and hoses
valve components and fittings
detection and signaling equipment
maintenance kits for fixed and mobile systems
Equipment Integrity Management
ANP guidelines and asset integrity standards reinforce the need for formal integrity management programs for piping, valves and structures, with continuous inspection throughout the assets' service life.
These programs generate demand for:
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) spare parts, with compatible certifications
scheduled maintenance kits with guaranteed performance
seals, gaskets and rings made of materials specified in the design
bearings with clear load and tolerance specifications
hydraulic components, such as hoses, connectors and filters
check, relief and block valves with pressure certification
carbon steel, stainless steel and duplex flanges with nondestructive testing
high-strength bolts with batch traceability
pressure, temperature and flow instrumentation with traceable calibration
Operators structure quarterly and semiannual inspection routines. The findings of these inspections are converted into planned replacements, which allows the supplier to plan stock and service levels.
Expansion to Offshore, Certification Requirements
Companies such as Private Oil & Gas are preparing their entry into the offshore market for 2026, with a focus on boilermaking, assembly of steel structures and equipment installation, drawing on the know-how developed onshore.
The transition to offshore requires adherence to technical standards and to the standards of globally recognized classification societies, such as DNV, as well as other classification societies dedicated to offshore units.
DNV:
Offshore Welding Consumables
Welding in the offshore environment, under the requirements of entities such as DNV, ABS and Lloyd’s Register, demands consumables and materials with specific certifications, such as:
AWS E7018-1, E8018-G, E10018-D2 electrodes with batch traceability
AWS E71T-1, E91T-1 flux-cored wires with low-temperature impact testing
ASTM A36 and A572 carbon steel plates, as well as 316L stainless and duplex steels
shielding gases with controlled purity, such as argon and argon CO₂ mixtures
Certified Structural Components
Offshore operations use structural and fastening components with stringent design requirements, for example:
ASTM A193 or equivalent bolts, minimum grade 8.8, with anticorrosion coating
ASTM A194 or DIN nuts, with lubricants compatible with the marine environment
forged connecting pins with controlled heat treatment
grade 8 lifting chains, with periodic tensile tests required by classification societies
SAE 100R2AT and SAE 100R13 hydraulic hoses with special marine coating
ISO 6149 hydraulic connectors with corrosion-resistant materials
Mandatory Protective Equipment
NR 37, Safety and Health on Oil Platforms, defines minimum requirements for safety, health and living conditions on oil platforms in Brazilian jurisdictional waters.
NR 37:
Among the obligations, the following stand out:
flammable and toxic gas detection systems, with redundancy and continuous monitoring
firefighting systems suited to the risk of pressurized oil and gas
personal protective equipment compatible with the offshore environment, with periodic inspections
mandatory training for offshore personnel, such as HUET and training in work at height and confined spaces
Certified Processing Components
Offshore platforms use process components with combined requirements of design, international certification and adherence to NR 37, for example:
ball valves for high pressure classes, with specific seats for severe service
threaded check valves with stainless steel internals
relief valves with documented pressure calibration
pressure transmitters with 4 to 20 mA signal and accuracy suited to the process
RTD temperature sensors and thermocouples with stems made of corrosion-resistant materials
turbine or Coriolis flow meters with calibration documentation
Operators are increasingly requiring these components to comply simultaneously with international classification society standards and Brazilian regulations. In practice, this set of requirements works as an entry filter for suppliers.