Testing proves hydrogen leak-tightness

Needs

Extreme exploration and storage conditions + Regulation constraints + Innovation

Solution

Expertise & Innovation for technical, regulatory and environmental constraints

Pierre Martin — R&D Manager at Vallourec

Moreover, Cetim offers solutions able to measure low concentrations of hydrogen.

Customer needs

Assess the hydrogen-tightness of screwed connections in order to validate their effectiveness in storage applications for this highly volatile and flammable gas, thus ensuring it does not escape from the wells.

Customer benefits

Leveraging Cetim’s testing equipment and expertise to validate leak-tightness of screwed connections with with a gas composed of 100% hydrogen as well as with a mixture partially composed of hydrogen (5% hydrogen, 95% nitrogen) at a pressure of 180 bars.

Cetim answer

Design and manufacture of the test bench for leak-tightness testing of 9-5/8” screwed connections. Securing the test equipment and procedure with the support of INERIS (the French institute for industrial environment and risks). Implementation of an ultra high-sensitivity measurement method.

Delivered results

A mass spectrometer was used to measure the quantity of gas which could accumulate, in the event of a leak, in the enclosure surrounding the screwed connection. This device is able to detect an extremely low leakage rate
(10-7 Pa.m3/s). No leaks were detected.