Transportation of Hydrogen Gas in Existing Carbon Steel Pipelines

OIL & GAS
Transportation of Hydrogen Gas in

Existing Carbon Steel Pipelines
Bjørn-Andreas Hugaas
Vice President
2020.12.02
DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21 SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER

Introduction
2 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier
I will not spend time on:

 the fact that hydrogen will play an important factor in
decarbonizing the world’s energy supply and building clean-
energy businesses, or
 the three ways to produce H2 gas:

– GREY (out)
– BLUE (natural gas with CSS)
– GREEN (renewable sources)
3 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier
 Though, I will say something about how H2 gas may affect the material
properties and pipeline integrity.
 In this regard it is important to ensure that our codes and standards have design
and material requirements that do not compromise the pipeline integrity (e.g.
DNVGL-ST-F101 and ASME B31.12).
 If the understanding on how H2 gas affects the material properties is lacking;

Too conservative design and material requirements
 However, by performing more testing to enhance our general understanding on
how H2 gas affects the material properties;
Less conservative design and material requirements
Possibly higher pressure and flow capacity
Better utilization of the pipeline system
Better economy
4 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Safe H2 Gas Transportation
 Identify the key issues that

need to be considered to
determine if a certain pipeline
system can be safely used for
H2 gas transportation.
 Tailor make a qualification

program addressing the key
identified concerns.
 If necessary, establish
mitigation measures.
5 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

“The Overall Picture” for Carbon Steel Pipelines Exposed to H2 Gas
Inside pipe Pipe wall Outside pipe

σ
Wetting?
Inhibitors?
Coating
H2
Crack growth/ CP
+ Stability
Seawater
Other
“H2>2H+”+other?
Crack nucleation
H+
pH2
Diffusion
6 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Key Materials Questions Related
to Hydrogen Embrittlement
7 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Key Materials Questions Related to HE
 Is the environment and loading

scenarios likely to result in initiation of ?
hydrogen induced cracks from initially
defect free surface?
Load
 What are the conditions for an existing
crack to remain stable during constant
loading?
Crack extension
 If comparing hydrogen charging by H2

gas and electrochemically, how will this
influence the likelihood to trigger HE?
8 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Hydrogen uptake and transport and
Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanisms
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Uptake and Transport of Hydrogen Gas
During transportation of H2 the following may happen:

- Adsorption: H2 gas will attach to the steel surface
- Dissociation: H2 gas will be separated into atomic H
- Absorption: H will migrate into the steel
10 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE) - General
 The first notable attempt at explaining

HE was made by W.H. Johnson in 1874
and HE has since been a hot topic for
researchers worldwide.
 Despite the tremendous effort that has

taken place to grasp the HE failure
mechanisms, there are still several
controversial findings.
 No apparent single dominant

mechanism.
 Further work is required to fully

understand these mechanisms at an
atomic level.
 .
11 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21
Hydrogen Embrittlement - General
The three general prerequisites that need to be

present to promote HE in metallic materials are:
 A material that is susceptible to HE

 Presence of nascent hydrogen
 A sufficiently high stress level
12 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Proposed Mechanisms of HE
 Hydrogen Enhanced Localized Plasticity – HELP

 Hydrogen Enhanced Decohesion – HEDE
 Hydrogen Induced Pressure Cracking – HIPC
 Hydrogen Enhanced Stress Induced Voids – HESIV
 Adsorption Induced Dislocation Emission – AIDE
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Effect of Hydrogen on Material
Properties and Pipeline Integrity
FACTS
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Effect of Hydrogen on Material Properties and Pipeline Integrity
 Depending on the H2 gas

pressure and applied strain
level, hydrogen will typically
reduce the material’s fracture
toughness and ductility.
 The fatigue crack growth rate

(FCGR) tends to increase with
increasing H2 gas pressure and
stress level (loading) – i.e.
reduced fatigue life.
 Hydrogen has limited effect the

yield stress and tensile strength.
15 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Effect of Hydrogen on Material Properties and Pipeline Integrity
 For high stress levels, the

FCGR has been reported to
be 30-40 times higher for
pipeline steel exposed to H2
gas compared to air (fatigue
degradation).
 Fatigue testing (X70)

indicates that weld metal and
HAZ exhibit similar FCGR as
for the base material when
exposed to hydrogen gas
(5.5 and 34MPa).
DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21
16
Mechanism that may Reduce
the Effect of H2
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Addition of Oxygen may Inhibit H2 Dissociation
 There are some studies indicating that addition of oxygen to the H2 gas
may inhibit the H2 dissociation process.
 O2 has greater affinity to the steel surface compared to H2, and hence tend
to occupy the most favorable adsorption sites.
 This will hinder the H2 adsorption and dissociation rates, and the
concentration of atomic hydrogen available to enter the steel reduced.
18 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Design code ASME B31.12 (2019)
- Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines
19 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Design code ASME B31.12 (2019) - Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines
 ASME B31.12 is originally developed for onshore applications with focus

on structural strength and burst.
 The updated 2019 version of ASME B31.12 is based on fatigue testing

only, which is justified by a statement that fatigue is the primary failure
mechanism in onshore pipelines.
 A model for hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth of pipeline steel has

been included.
 It is important to identify additional development work required to

maintain the same safety level as in the existing offshore pipeline design
code DNVGL-ST-F101.
20 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Design code ASME B31.12 (2019) - Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines
 Two possible approaches for material assessment:

–Option A (prescriptive design method): Based on a
material Hf performance factor, provides the reduction in
pressure for most common pipeline steel grades. Does not
require testing in hydrogen gas.
–Option B (performance-based design method): The

material performance is based on testing and not a “knock-
down” factor.
21 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Current limitations with ASME B31.12
 Axial loading not covered (e.g. girth welds).
 No additional requirements for hoop stresses below 40% SMYS.
 Addresses loading due to pressure in hoop direction only, e.g. no

requirements to ensure adequate fracture arrest properties.
 Fatigue only from hoop stress variations.
 Uncertainties related to weld performance.
 Environmental loads not directly addressed.
22 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

RP for Hydrogen Transport
The current information in ASME B31.12; 2019 is not necessarily sufficient

to decide with a high level of confidence if a pipeline system is fit for
transportation of H2 gas or not.
DNV GL is planning a Recommended Practice to complement DNVGL-ST-

F101 for design of offshore hydrogen pipelines.
23 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Summary
Relevant Questions that Need to be Addressed

to Establish Non-Conservative Design Criteria
For H2 Gas Transportation
24 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Relevant Questions when it comes to HE
 Will surface cracks be nucleated under normal operating conditions?

 Will significant crack growth take place under constant loading?
 How will the environment affect the resistance to crack initiation and
growth under cyclic loading?
 Is H2 gas a concern for large-scale yielding failure modes as third-party
damage (e.g. anchor drag)?
 Currently design decisions must be based on what is judged to

be representative test results – i.e. may be overly conservative.
25 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

QUESTIONS?
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DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21 26

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OIL & GAS

Transportation of Hydrogen Gas in

DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21 SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER

2 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

I will not spend time on:

 the three ways to produce H2 gas:

3 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 If the understanding on how H2 gas affects the material properties is lacking;

4 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 Identify the key issues that

 Tailor make a qualification

5 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

Inside pipe Pipe wall Outside pipe

6 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

7 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 Is the environment and loading

 If comparing hydrogen charging by H2

8 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

9 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

During transportation of H2 the following may happen:

10 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 The first notable attempt at explaining

 Despite the tremendous effort that has

 No apparent single dominant

 Further work is required to fully

The three general prerequisites that need to be

 A material that is susceptible to HE

12 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 Hydrogen Enhanced Localized Plasticity – HELP

13 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

14 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 Depending on the H2 gas

 The fatigue crack growth rate

 Hydrogen has limited effect the

15 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 For high stress levels, the

 Fatigue testing (X70)

DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

17 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

18 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

19 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 ASME B31.12 is originally developed for onshore applications with focus

 The updated 2019 version of ASME B31.12 is based on fatigue testing

 A model for hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth of pipeline steel has

 It is important to identify additional development work required to

20 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 Two possible approaches for material assessment:

–Option B (performance-based design method): The

21 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

 Axial loading not covered (e.g. girth welds).

 No additional requirements for hoop stresses below 40% SMYS.

 Addresses loading due to pressure in hoop direction only, e.g. no

 Fatigue only from hoop stress variations.

 Uncertainties related to weld performance.

 Environmental loads not directly addressed.

22 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21

The current information in ASME B31.12; 2019 is not necessarily sufficient

DNV GL is planning a Recommended Practice to complement DNVGL-ST-

23 DNV GL © 2013 2015.01.21