It is crucial that the infrastructure is thoroughly tested and confirmed to survive these particular circumstances in order to permit safe subterranean hydrogen storage.
With the establishment of a qualification standard in 2021 that certifies the hydrogen tightness of its VAM 21 connections, Vallourec has been at the forefront of this study. As of right now, Vallourec has successfully tested and authorized the use of CLEANWELL, its grease-free coating, for the storage of hydrogen, enhancing performance while minimizing environmental effects.
According to the qualification process created by Vallourec in 2021, the behavior of the VAM® 21 connection with regard to hydrogen was studied by modeling the pressure, temperature, and mechanical stresses that would be present during storage. Click here to read the complete article on Vallourec’s hydrogen certification methodology.
The first connection to be certified for storage applications up to 560 bar is VAM 21 9 5/8″. In order to provide its clients with a more sophisticated offer combining higher installation performance and minimal environmental impact, Vallourec has also tested the tightness of its CLEANWELL ® grease-free coating for hydrogen applications. Other outside diameters (OD) have been evaluated by combining physical testing and finite element analysis. Validated has expanded to include sizes from 6 5/8″ to 13 5/8″ in a variety of configurations (grease and CLEANWELL), and it will do so in order to better serve its customers.
