Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum – Crystal City, Virginia, June 24-25, 2009

Track 6

Alternate Fuels / Climate Change

Bob Wilson

Jake Haase

Mike Gallinaro
Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum – Crystal City, Virginia, June 24-25, 2009

Track 6 – Alternate Fuels / Climate Change

Attendance Breakdown

Approximate total attendance 25 persons

Federal Regulators 4 persons

State Regulators 0 persons

International Regulators 0 persons

Pipeline Industry 4 persons

Standard Organizations 4 persons

Researchers 6 persons

Academics 0 persons

Other (Biofuel Producer) 1 persons
Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum – Crystal City, Virginia, June 24-25, 2009

Top 3 Identified R&D Gaps

Gap #1 – Material Compatibility with Biodiesel and Cleaning effects of Biodiesel

on Pipelines. (General Knowledge)

Gap #2 – Pipeline Safety and Integrity Issues Associated with Renewable Gas.

(General Knowledge)

Gap #3 – Pipeline Integrity Impacts From Flowing Hydrogen Through Pipes.

(General Knowledge)

Track 6 – Alternate Fuels / Climate Change
Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum – Crystal City, Virginia, June 24-25, 2009

Associated Details

(Gap #1)

Material Compatibility with Biodiesel and the

Cleaning Effects of Biodiesel on Pipelines

This knowledge would target pipelines currently transporting refined liquid petroleum products,

specifically diesel fuel. Pipelines would primarily be onshore and could be of any composition

(steel, polymeric, etc).

The following technical focus areas are either necessary or recommended:

a. Identify what materials have not already been researched (in vehicle compatibility studies)

b. Determine the impact of biodiesel on elastomers and other polymeric materials (ID’d in step a)

c. Establish threshold levels of concern as related to pipeline integrity for various biodiesel

constituents.

d. Investigate standardized monitoring methods and instrumentation for both biodiesel content and

potential deleterious constituent levels

e. Investigate the potential cleaning effect of biodiesel

A proposed mandate calls for significant biodiesel use by 2012. Most of this work will need to be

completed to meet this mandate.

Track 6 – Alternate Fuels / Climate Change
Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum – Crystal City, Virginia, June 24-25, 2009

Associated Details

(Gap #2)

Pipeline Safety and Integrity Issues

Associated with Renewable Gas

This knowledge would target pipelines currently transporting natural gas. Pipelines affected

include gas transmission and local distribution lines. Pipelines of steel and polymeric construction

would be included.

The following technical focus areas are either necessary or recommended:

a. Identify trace constituents in gas that have an impact to pipeline integrity. Both existing natural

gas sources as well as renewable gas sources (such as biogas) need to be investigated.

b. Conduct a materials science evaluation of existing pipeline components and their interaction

with gas constituents.

c. Investigate the chemistry of odor fade concerns related to existence of trace constituents and its

impact to public safety.

d. Investigate standardized monitoring methods and instrumentation for detecting the deleterious

constituent identified above

This gap needs a short term solution because of both the changing nature of the country’s gas

supply and the influx of more renewable gas sources

Track 6 – Alternate Fuels / Climate Change
Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum – Crystal City, Virginia, June 24-25, 2009

Associated Details

(Gap #3)

Pipeline Integrity Impacts From Flowing Hydrogen Through Pipes

This knowledge would target pipelines currently transporting natural gas or newly constructed

pipelines dedicated to hydrogen gas transportation. Pipelines affected include gas transmission

and local distribution lines. Pipelines of steel and polymeric construction would be included.

This gap concerns both co-mingling hydrogen gas with natural gas and transportation of pure

hydrogen gas.

The following technical focus areas are either necessary or recommended:

a. Perform literature search or public “roadmapping session” to identify and prioritize issues.

b. Investigate impact of hydrogen on materials of construction.

c. Establish threshold limits for hydrogen gas in pipeline transportation scenarios.

d. Develop evaluation criteria for repurposing existing pipelines for hydrogen gas transportation.

e. Investigate trace constituents in hydrogen gas that results from hydrogen manufacture.

Investigate the impact of any identified constituents on gas quality and pipeline integrity

Due to the large potential scope of these focus areas, this is a long term, multiyear project.

Track 6 – Alternate Fuels / Climate Change
Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum – Crystal City, Virginia, June 24-25, 2009

Additional Identified Gaps

• Enhanced in-situ leak detection and leak quantification for methane

emissions

• Investigate regulatory barriers that impede methane recovery.

• Prioritize emission detection locations by specific asset (equipment) class.

For example, should emission detection focus on valves instead of flange

connections.

• Perform study on pipeline lifecycle emissions. Compare GHG emissions

caused by pipelines from construction through de-commissioning to the

GHG emissions caused by alternate transportation methods.

Track 6 – Alternate Fuels / Climate Change