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TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Table 1 – Data on Existing Offshore Pipelines in North Europe eligible for repurposing to H and CO Transport (ref. Re-
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Stream study)
The challenge for the pipeline designer is that no methodical and pragmatic, with a learning by doing
hydrogen pipelines offshore exist today, very few approach.
are the CO ones, repurposing activities are mo- The innovation plan was organized in three phases
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stly limited to life extension (Picture 3), each including various work packages.
In 2021 a study, Re-stream, of existing pipeline without The first phase was dedicated to deepening
commissioned by important changing significatively the knowledge on the two fluids and identify the gaps
type of fluid transported.
where additional R&D effort was required. The se-
“O&G associations, analysed cond phase was focused to design and start filling
the feasibility of repurposing In addition, the new scena- the gaps. Some case studies were selected for
new or repurposed offshore pipelines to transport
rios oblige to a transforma-
the European gas and oil tion in the design approach H or H /NG or CO . The study cases for pure
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infrastructure to transport that should primarily consi- hydrogen considered a new pipeline transporting
Hydrogen or CO der that some of the new hydrogen from an offshore electrolyser to shore,
2 molecules to be transported while for hydrogen blended with natural gas it was
have an interaction with the analysed the re-use of an existing offshore pipe-
integrity of the pipe material line in the Mediterranean sea. The study case for
itself. Therefore, as part of the change, it is to be CO considered the reuse of an existing flowline
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considered the testing of material properties under system between two platforms and the shore, re-
various conditions, to support and provide a strong versing the flow direction to transfer captured CO
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scientific base to the standardization process of the from land industrial sources to subsea injection and
design. storage. The Table 2 below presents the main cha-
racteristics of all the case studied within the rese-
Advancing the innovation arch program.
process in technology To fill some knowledge and technological gaps and
to conduct experimental test campaign, a coope-
After a preliminary state of art review, it was re- ration with research entities and laboratories, like
cognized that there were gaps to be filled from a Politecnico di Milano and RINA, was started inclu-
technological point of view and a roadmap was ding the active participation to an important Joint
established to fill them. All engineering disciplines Industry Project, DNV (Det Norske Veritas) JIPH2Pi-
of offshore pipeline design were involved in this pe (Joint Industry Project on Hydrogen Pipelines).
process considering both JIP adjoining and ex- The third phase is ongoing with the ultimate objec-
perimental test campaigns. The intent was to be tive to provide data and information to the engi-

Picture 3 – Saipem R&D Pro-
gram on H and CO Pipeli-
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nes Offshore - Activities Bre-
akdown

14 Impiantistica Italiana - Maggio-Giugno 2023