Challenges

Challenges

The project aims to design, develop and experimentally validate a new prototype of an advanced production string for safely injecting and withdrawing hydrogen gas, from surface to any underground hydrogen storage location. The new system will use strong stainless steel pipes connected with a special type of threading, designed to safely contain hydrogen gas, even under different pressures, temperatures, and forces.

The DESSERT project addresses four primary challenges:

Selecting optimal materials for the pipe
New microstructural and micromechanical material models and ad-hoc lab-scale testing methods will be developed to study how the selected materials and lubricants behave when exposed to pressurized hydrogen gas atmosphere, analogue conditions to what they would experience in real application.
Designing a high-performance threaded connection
A new high-quality threaded pipe connection will be designed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models to prevent hydrogen gas leaks and keep the system secure. In parallel, a seal tightness model based on percolation theory will also be developed to study the sealing performance of the connection. Ad-hoc tests will be developed to find possible weak points in the threaded connection areas. The new designed prototypes will be tested in a full-frame setup that simulates how it would work under hydrogen pressures and axial loads.
A technical specification of the designed string
A technical specification of the designed string to be used for hydrogen injection in underground geological formations will be developed. Materials, main pipe body characteristics and geometrical features of the connection with maximum contact pressure and torque to keep the gas tight will be included in the brochure.
A draft code
A draft code comprising the new test protocol to validate threaded connections for hydrogen service will be developed. Full test procedure and the requirements needed for the pipes in order to be qualified for the defined tests will be included in the draft.

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