Inspection of a Dedicated Hydrogen Pipeline

Cost effective although water is used as propellant

In recent years, the demand for alternatives to hydrocarbon fuels has been steadily increasing. One way to decarbonize our future is investing in the so-called hydrogen economy. Hydrogen is very small and mobile, which enables it to permeate various materials. This may lead not only to leaks of much higher volume than with natural gas but also to the embrittlement of pipe material. To prevent this from happening, hydrogen pipelines must be subject to thorough and rigorous integrity management.

A 12-mile pipeline segment, 10" in diameter and installed in 1996, was set up for the transport of hydrogen. The only way to inspect hydrogen pipelines was by utilizing water as a propellant. However, this process comes at a high cost to the operator, as it requires the line be taken out of service for the inspection and the drying process. As the industry gained a better understanding, the operators pushed for more cost-effective solutions.