Industry and research partners studied the development of materials to improve safety and reliability in pipeline solutions. Tenaris
Tenaris recently hosted the HyLINE II Joint Industry Project (JIP) meeting in Dalmine, Italy, where industry and research partners gathered to discuss advances in materials and technologies for hydrogen transportation. Tenaris contributes its expertise in pipeline materials and manufacturing alongside partners including Equinor, ExxonMobil, Gassco, TotalEnergies, TechnipFMC and Shell.
Coordinated by SINTEF in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Kyushu University, HyLINE II studies the impact of hydrogen embrittlement to support the development of safe and reliable pipeline solutions. During the meeting, participants reviewed results from laboratory testing, material characterization and modelling, from the microstructural level to full-scale pipeline performance.
“One of the main goals of the project is to understand and predict the conditions under which hydrogen could affect pipeline integrity,” said Mons Hauge, Senior Advisor Materials Technology at Equinor and Chairman of the HyLINE II Steering Committee. “We have generated significant knowledge on how hydrogen interacts with steels and weldments, and recent modelling developments are helping us better predict the conditions that could lead to fracture, supporting the safe design and operation of future hydrogen pipelines.”
A key focus of the current phase is welded joints, where varied microstructures and residual stresses add complexity. “HyLINE II enables us to connect fundamental research with practical pipeline applications,” said Vigdis Olsen, Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF and Project Coordinator. “One of the main focuses of this phase is understanding how hydrogen interacts with welded joints, which are inherently more complex due to their varied microstructures and residual stresses.”
“The hydrogen economy still presents technical challenges that require close cooperation between research institutions and industry,” said Mihaela E. Cristea, Senior Product Manager at Tenaris and project lead for the company. “By collaborating with the HyLINE II team, we gain valuable insights that help us anticipate future market needs and ensure that future solutions are technically robust and aligned with real-world applications.”
Scheduled to conclude by the end of 2027, HyLINE II is helping advance the knowledge and technologies needed for safe, large-scale hydrogen transportation.