When planning and constructing gas pipelines, the route is chosen from among various alternatives on the basis of their environmental impact, the safety of transportation and the techno-economic feasibility. In particular, a great deal of attention is given to either avoiding or at least reducing to a minimum the construction of pipelines in areas of special natural or cultural interest, archaeological areas, geologically unstable areas and inhabited areas or areas where plans exist for the construction of new houses.

This research is carried out by analysing the soil, the subsoil, the botanic and  fauna species, the ecosystems, the countryside, the agricultural activities, the infrastructure, the development plans and the environmental restrictions present in the individual areas.

During the construction phase, trenches are dug for the pipeline using technology that interferes as little as possible with the surrounding environment. Once the pipeline has been laid, the land around it is restored to its original condition.

The vegetation restoration project takes into account all the analyses of the ecosystems that were carried out in the initial planning phase, and it is based on the fundamental criteria of protecting  biodiversity. The vegetation restoration project includes the use of autochthonous vegetation species and, in particular, pioneer shrub species produced in direct collaboration with specialised nurseries. Once the environmental restoration projects have been completed, in some cases five-year projects are set up in collaboration with universities and professional bodies to monitor the new ecosystems deriving from the operations.

When gas compressor stations are constructed or existing power stations are developed or expanded, environmental mitigation and restoration operations are carried out both inside and outside the plant, depending on the environmental context.
When distribution pipelines are laid or replaced, use is made of "no dig" techniques that require a limited amount of digging and reduce the impact of the operations on the surrounding environment.

When underwater pipelines are laid, innovative monitoring systems are used to show in real time the stress the pipes undergo during the laying operation.

When underwater pipelines are being used, video cameras and other instruments are used to check their state and the surrounding environment.

Saipem has developed technology for laying pipelines in very shallow water that avoids the use of equipment with a strong environmental impact and of excavating and dredging large volumes of earth.

The solutions adopted and widely used since 2006 resulted in the installation of a total of 150 km of pipeline in a highly protected sea-land transition environment, characterized by a unique ecosystem rich in endemic flora and fauna.

The integrated approach adopted made it possible to keep close control of the installation process from the overall method adopted (modularity), including the laying vessels used (Castoro 12, TRB, TRB Tenders and PE Floaters) to the individual choices for equipment (for example, fully biodegradable oil for the oleodynamic machines which may accidentally spill oil into the sea).