Learnings

Outcomes

The project value tracking is listed below:   

·       Maturity 

o   TRL2-7. Variety of projects covering multiple TRLs. 

·       Opportunity 

o   Variety of projects covering multiple assets. 

·       Deployment Costs 

o   Not possible to define deployment cost across large number of projects and TRLs. 

·       Innovation Cost 

o   £ 860,825. Annual contribution. 

·       Financial Saving 

o   Not possible to define savings across large number of projects. 

·       Safety 

o   Not possible to define safety improvements across large number of projects. 

·       Environmental  

o   Not possible to define environmental savings across large number of projects.

·       Compliance 

o   Not possible to define compliance benefits across large number of projects. 

·       Skills & Competencies 

o   Projects could benefit whole business.

·       Future Proof 

o   Projects include future topics such as hydrogen and CCUS.

The project is funded on a non-default basis and so full project reports cannot be released into the public domain. However, a lot of material is published on-line via the PRCI site and at pipeline conferences. The PRCI structures its work packages along well-defined themes. 

The following projects were voted on by National Gas during 2022/23: 

·       TDC-1-1A - Technology Development Center

·       LD-2-01 - SRP LD New Multi-Year Project: Improve Leak Detection Technology Performance Through Retrofittable Sensors

·       LD-1-03 - SRP LD New Multi-Year Project: Technical Best Practice for Computational Pipeline Monitoring on Liquid Pipelines

·       LD-1-02 - SRP LD New Multi-Year Project: Liquid Pipeline Leak Event Primary Data Repository

·       NDE-4-24- SRP CM: Circumferential Crack Management Framework

·       LD-1-01 - SRP LD: Internal and External Leak Detection Technology Test Facility Feasibility Assessment

·       MAT-7-2  - SRP CM: Hard Spot Susceptibility Review - Pipe Manufacturers, Pipe Type, Vintage

·       NDE-4-26 - SRP CM: In-Line Inspection Performance on Tight Cracks

·       LD-1-04 - SRP LD: Technical Understanding of Gas Leak Events and Placement of Leak Detection Sensors

·       MATR-3-15A - SRP GHG: Assessment of Temp Repair Methods

·       NDE-4-17A - SRP CM: Pipeline Material Property Database Enhancement

·       EC-02-12 - SRP CM: Evaluation of Selective Seam Weld Corrosion Susceptibility

·       EC-02-13 - SRP CM: Response to Corrosion Intersecting the Longitudinal Seam in Liquid Pipelines

·       SCC-02-15 - SRP CM: Crack Dormancy and Prevention of Crack Growth for SCC

·       MD-2-4 - MD: Improvement to Mechanical Damage Engineering Assessment Tools

·       MEAS-9-03 - SRP GHG: High Flow Sampler Replacement

·       NDE-2-10 - In Ditch Material Verification for Fittings and Seamless Pipe

·       CPS-11-09 - SRP GHG: Regulatory Support for GHG Emission Reductions

·       CPS-17-09 - SRP GHG: Evaluate In Situ Valve Repair Techniques

·       CPS-17-08 - SRP GHG: Reciprocating Engine Exhaust Methane Slip Reduction

·       CPS-14-06 - SRP GHG: Continuous Monitoring and Diagnostics for Facility Efficiency

·       MATR-3-15B - SRP GHG: Industry Best Practices for Making Temporary Repairs Permanent

·       MAT-8-3C - SRP CM: Understanding Why Crack Fail - Results Sharing

·       NDE-2-14 - SRP CM: NDE Technician Improvement Training Course for In-Ditch Long Seam Defect Evaluations

·       IM-3-03 - SRP CM: Comprehensive Review and Assessment Guidelines for SSWC

·       NDE-4-27 - SRP CM: Protocol for PRCI Pipe Sample Evaluation and Documentation

·       NDE-4-28 - SRP CM: Protocol for Testing New Technologies at the TDC

·       NDE-1-10A - Hydrogen Cracking Integrity Management Evaluation

·       NDE-4-25 - Fast/Accurate Feedback from Site Investigation for Continuous Improvement of Crack ILI

·       UP-2-05 - Non-destructive Testing and Evaluation of Defects using Ultrasonic Mode Imaging

·       MAT-7-2A - Hard Spot Detection

·       IM-1-05 - Comprehensive Review and Categorization of Threats to Pipelines and Pipeline Facilities

·       NDE-4-13A - Seam Weld Corrosion Detection with ILI Technologies – Continuation and Expansion

·       EC-08-13 - SRP CM: Influence of External Hydrogen on Crack Growth

·       IEFI-04-06 - Hydrogen Impact on Usage of Existing Integrity Assessment Models

·       DEFI-04-08 - Full Scale Testing of Pipe for Hydrogen Service

A summary of the key outputs of selected priority PRCI projects is given below:

·       JEFI-00-02 – EFI Guidance Document

o   This project is a collation of the latest industry knowledge on hydrogen gas transmission in seven topic areas: Safety; Integrity; Inspection and Maintenance; Compression; Measurement; Network Components / Blending; Underground Storage 

o   This project in ongoing, with Level 2 drafts of documents in each of these areas have been published.

·       JEFI-04-06 – Hydrogen Impact on Usage of Existing Integrity Assessment Models

o   The aim of this project is to review the suitability of existing integrity assessment approaches for hydrogen pipelines.

o   This project in ongoing, with reviews of plain dents, dents associated with welds, ripples / wrinkle bends and corrosion for both 100% hydrogen gas and hydrogen-natural gas blends so far undertaken

·       JEFI-04-11 11 Develop Pipeline Industry Consensus Engineering Requirements (CER) for Hydrogen Transmission Pipelines

o   ASME appointed the EFI within PRCI to conduct review of the existing B31.12 hydrogen code with the intention of retiring that document and moving the transmission content into a new chapter in B31.8.

o   The proposed new sections have been shared for review with project stakeholders with a final report published. This will be shared with ASME for inclusion in the next edition of B31.8 (expected 2026).

·       NDE-4-26 SRP CM: In-Line Inspection Performance on Tight Cracks

o   This project is a review of available inline inspection technologies that are capable of detecting tight cracks such as those expected due to hydrogen embrittlement.

o   This project in ongoing, with techniques for introducing representative cracks into sample pipes without signposting their location to the inspection tools being determined.

Lessons Learnt

Over the last few years, PRCI membership has seen a greater diversification of membership. Where in previous years’ participation was predominantly from North American industry, there has been an increase in non-American participation from European countries and China. The uptake in wider global membership feeds into a wider range of research and areas of exploration that promotes a broader application globally. This benefits National Gas Transmission and Cadent by delivering an even wider breadth of research than ever before, and an increase in the leverage available with greater uptake in membership. Following feedback from the business the innovation team has focused on ways that the results and progress of the PRCI projects can be better disseminated to the wider business. This will allow the benefits of the research carried out by PRCI to be leveraged fully.