This offshore liquefied natural gas import terminal in Santa Catarina, Brazil, began earlier this year to produce 15 million cu meters per day—half for local use—filling an energy security gap after Bolivia limited its supply to the region in 2022. With a density lighter than air, LNG is considered a cleaner alternative than oil and coal for consumers and for regional manufacturing sectors, the team says.

To execute the project, the team used horizontal directional drilling for its 20-in. dia, 33-km offshore pipeline that also connects the terminal to the wider Brazilian gas market, in what is the largest application of the technology in Latin America—among approaches used to overcome difficult terrain and reduce ecosystem impact.