Nanocomposite Advanced Surface Protection for Safe and Efficient Hydrogen Transport in Existing Steel Pipelines

Hydrogen transport through existing natural gas pipelines offers the most efficient, low carbon footprint approach for utilizing hydrogen from natural gas and other resources. However, existing natural gas infrastructure needs to be protected from any hydrogen (embrittlement, cracking and fatigue) related damage to the steel pipelines and flow efficiency of pipeline infrastructure must be improved to achieve safety and economic benefits necessary to move towards hydrogen economy. To transform existing natural gas infrastructure to handle blending of hydrogen safely and efficiently in natural gas stream Oceanit proposes to refine and mature its advanced nanocomposite surface protection technology, composed of multilayered nanocomposite coating (HydroPel) for application on new (factory coating) and existing pipelines (in-situ application) to prevent hydrogen embrittlement, cracking and fatigue in natural gas infrastructure. During Phase I, Oceanit will develop and demonstrate an advanced nanocomposite surface treatment (HydroPel) designed for application in new and existing natural gas pipeline through in-situ application process that can offer significant protection for steel pipeline infrastructure against hydrogen. Oceanit will conduct thorough testing and evaluation of the nanocomposite surface treatment to meet all the performance and safety requirement to demonstrate the capability of the nanocomposite surface treatment to provide safety, durability, and energy efficiency in blending hydrogen with natural gas. All formulation work and evaluation of the material will be carried out in the proposer’s Honolulu, HI and Houston, TX facilities. Oceanit’s proposed solution addresses two major issue in the pipeline industry, providing an effective solution to prevent hydrogen related damage and enhance the operational efficiency of existing pipelines. Energy employees and contractors. Oceanit’s HydroPel provides a much-needed solution to accelerate the development of hydrogen-based economy and reducing the carbon emission significantly. The proposed technology has widespread application in oil and gas mid-stream sector and other chemical, renewable energy-based hydrogen generation plants to utilize HydroPel to protect and operate hydrogen related pipeline and pumping infrastructure.