Water scarcity is no longer just an environmental concern but has become a strategic risk for the oil and gas industry. Regions with limited freshwater availability are now home to some of the world's largest energy exploration and production complexes, and exclusive dependence on conventional supply sources is an increasing vulnerability for operational continuity.

Offshore platforms, coastal refineries, and energy industrial complexes require significant volumes of water for cooling, steam generation, and reservoir injection. With intensified drought periods, regulatory restrictions on water intake, and ESG pressure on operators, diversifying the water matrix is no longer optional, it has become a strategic necessity.

In this context, seawater desalination emerges as one of the most robust solutions to ensure water security in coastal and offshore operations. Today, desalination technology enables the development of reliable, scalable alternative sources that are increasingly competitive, reducing operational costs and contributing to companies’ decarbonization goals.

Securing safe and independent water sources brings concrete benefits to operations: it ensures productive continuity even in scenarios of severe water restrictions, reduces exposure to regulatory and licensing risks, decreases competition for resources with local communities, and strengthens companies’ ESG reputations. Additionally, predictable supply allows for more efficient operational planning, with less exposure to emergency costs and unplanned interruptions.

Designed to operate in highly demanding environments, Veolia’s reverse osmosis desalination systems combine state-of-the-art membranes and integrated energy recovery to serve operations on offshore platforms and isolated coastal terminals. In a modular format, these solutions bring together intake, pre-treatment, and final polishing in compact, automated, and easily installable units, ensuring continuous operation with minimal human intervention.

Veolia’s systems deliver certified-quality process water with a reduced carbon footprint, aligning water security and decarbonization in a single solution.

Resilience as a Competitive Advantage

Companies that anticipate water risks and invest in new water sources not only ensure their operational continuity, they build resilience to compete in a scenario of increasingly scarce resources and ever-stricter regulations.

As a global environmental security expert, Veolia is redefining water management in the energy sector, going beyond compliance to create more sustainable and resilient operations. By integrating advanced desalination, smart automation, and continuous real-time monitoring, the company not only addresses current water challenges but also anticipates operational risks and delivers concrete solutions to ensure the sector’s continuity and competitiveness in the long term.

This trend is already reflected in concrete initiatives. The strategic partnership between Veolia and SBM Offshore, a world leader in deepwater ocean infrastructure, is a prime example. Together, the companies are developing floating freshwater production units (FPUs) capable of producing up to 100,000 m³/day, with faster deployment than land-based solutions and flexibility to relocate as demand evolves, ensuring water independence and reducing exposure to regulatory risks in regions with increasing scarcity.

In a sector where water is as essential as energy, anticipating water risk is no longer a differentiator, it is a condition for operation. The question is not if your operation will need alternative water sources, but when.

Veolia develops customized solutions that combine proven technology, smart automation, and expertise, with flexible implementation models. For more information, visit https://www.watertechsolutions.com.br/industries/oil-gas-renewables or contact a specialist at: https://golatam.veoliawatertechnologies.com/pt-br/contato-brasil

▁▁▁

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, works every day to build ecological security for the benefit of public health and the competitiveness of industries and regions. With 215,000 employees across five continents, working closely with local communities, and thanks to its cutting-edge technologies, the group cleans up pollution, reduces carbon emissions, and regenerates resources through concrete solutions that combine its expertise in water and water technologies, waste - including hazardous waste management, and local energy. In 2025, the Veolia group served 110 million people with drinking water and 97 million with sanitation, produced 45 million megawatt hours of energy, and treated 64 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE, Fortune 500, SBF 120) generated consolidated revenue of €44.4 billion in 2025. www.veolia.com

▁▁▁

CONTACTS

Maria Gabriela

Marketing and Communications Senior Consultant

Water Tech

Cell.: +55 (11) 974 70 6592

maria.gabriela@veolia.com

EXPORT | DIVERSIFY | GROW

EXPORT | DIVERSIFY | GROW

NRStor and partners developing 1,000MWh energy storage project in Canada

Sign up to the EIC Newsletter