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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_NGGT0183
Title	Inhibition of Hydrogen Embrittlement Effects in Pipeline Steels
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 50%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Other Supporting Data) 50%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given National Grid Gas Transmission
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 December 2021
End Date	30 June 2023
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£664,873
Industrial Sectors	Energy
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , National Grid Gas Transmission (100.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_NGGT0183
Objectives	The research element of the project will be split into 3 main phases: Functional requirements, concept development and research delivery. The method for this project will be a combination of desktop studies and laboratory based testing.The initial proposal is to conduct 54 tests in total (18 in air for baseline characterisation, 36 in hydrogen), however this may change as a result of Phases 1 and 2 of the project. This would include KIH, Fatigue Crack Growth Rate and Rising Load Fracture Toughness tests at 100 barg in varying oxygen concentrations across the base metal, girth weld HAZ and girth weld metal. Measurement Quality StatementThe laboratory will be accredited to ISO 17025, which means mandates procedures in place to ensure reliability. All tests will, where possible and required by the design of experiments, be performed in accordance with recognised international standards (e.g. CSA CHMC1, ASTM E1820 for fracture toughness or ASTM E1681 for KIH testing). Testing will be performed by experienced laboratory personnel, and all test results will be reviewed by suitably qualified engineers before being reported.Data Quality StatementThe project will ensure that data used is of sufficient quality to deliver project objectives by the individuals within the project team, both from National Grid GT and the 3rd party supplier on the project. The relevant data and background information will be stored for future access within the National Grid Innovation Sharepoint site.  The scope of this project will be to fully understand the impact of oxygen on the embrittlement of pipeline steels exposed to hydrogen. Phase 1 will review all publicly available data on the topic and use this information to identify gaps and ultimately develop the final test plan. This will cover available research findings as well as test methodologies. Once the literature review is complete, a functional requirements document will be created to capture the findings.Phase 2 will use the findings of Phase 1 to develop a test rig and test programme proposals to fulfill the functional requirements of the project. The proposed options will be discussed with National Grid and the confirmed test rig design and test programme will be finalised.Phase 3 of the project will conduct laboratory-based tests on pipeline samples at varying pressures, oxygen concentrations and loading conditions. The samples will come from pipelines which have been in service transporting natural gas and are therefore representative of NTS pipelines. The tests will be conducted in a manner which is as close as possible to tests which were conducted for the Roadmap to FutureGrid NIA project to ensure that the results are comparable. Phase 4 will ensure that NIA governance requirements are followed, and that all activity through the project is logged and disseminated to the energy industry.The benefit of this project will ultimately be the proof needed that there are mitigations available for hydrogen embrittlement in the steel pipelines that National Grid GT own. With this knowledge the challenge of embrittlement can be managed and the existing NTS can be utilised to transport a blend of natural gas and hydrogen up to 100% hydrogen and prevent the need for expensive replacement of large sections of transmission pipelines.In scopeEffect on fracture toughness, fatigue lifePipeline steels (X52, X60, X80)Effect of oxygen inclusionOut of scopeOther pipeline steel grades and materialsOther material tests such as elongation and tensile strength (these could be considered as follow on work depending on the findings of this work and the relevance of the impact of hydrogen)Permeation rates To determine the extent to which hydrogen embrittlement effects can be mitigated with the addition of small quantities of oxygen into the gas mix. This includes: Characterising the scale of the effects Comparing the effects across different steel grades Comparing the effects across different pipe components Comparing the effects across different oxygen concentrationsThis evidence gathered should ultimately feed into a recommendation as to whether this is a viable mitigation method for hydrogen embrittlement effects and what further work would be required to facilitate its use on the NTS.
Abstract	Oxygen has been shown in several studies to almost eliminate the effect of hydrogen has on pipeline steels. Whilst there is strong evidence available for certain steel grades and operation conditions, these are not universally applicable for operation on the National Transmission System (NTS). To ensure we have sufficient levels of confidence for NTS pipelines, we must gather experimental evidence for NTS specific materials and operating conditions (X52-X80 @ 40-85bar). This study will evaluate the impact on tensile strength, fracture and fatigue properties in hydrogen with 0, 100, 250, 500 and 1000ppm oxygen.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	14/10/22