Saipem’s protocol for subsea hydrogen pipeline materials gets green light from RINA

Italian engineering, drilling, and construction services provider Saipem has obtained two certifications from compatriot classification society RINA for the performance qualification methodology of materials used in the construction of subsea pipelines for the transportation of gaseous hydrogen.

To mitigate the risk of weakening materials, Saipem has developed its protocol to evaluate the performance of the metallic materials and the relative welds to the passage of the hydrogen, which allows it to ascertain the compatibility of the pipelines in both the planning and operational phases.

Now, RINA awarded approval in principle (AiP) and technology qualification certifications which are expected to pave the way for large-scale use of Saipem’s protocol.

“The acknowledgements received from RINA add to Saipem’s track record of 65 years of offshore activity for the transportation of hydrocarbons and attest to the company’s ability to plan, realize and to also install pipelines for the transportation of hydrogen,” the Italian company said.

Saipem’s hydrogen portfolio also includes SUISO, a technological solution that combines floating wind, floating solar, and marine energy to power the production of green hydrogen on existing offshore platforms.

Launched in 2021, the solution was bound to find its first application in the AGNES project, the offshore energy hub off the Adriatic coast of Ravenna.

In other company-related news, Saipem recently expanded the subsea pipeline offering by revamping an existing technology, created by the U.S.-based United Pipeline Systems (UPS).

The “major industrial milestone” was accomplished with an upgrade to enable offshore and subsea use of United Pipeline Systems’ technology initially developed for the internal lining of onshore pipelines. 

This development was also awarded the statement of qualified technology from DNV.