Biomethane Interchangeability: Modeling of Microbial Induced Corrosion and Integrity Impact on Non-Metallic Pipelines

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• Biogas
• Stress Corrosion Cracking

Main Objective

As biogas production sources increase, they will eventually be fed into a gathering network that allows the common collection and distribution of the fuel to processing locations followed by distribution to the end user. The main objective of this research is on the immediate need to understand the impacts of transporting various biogas blends on the integrity of non-metallic materials (thermoplastics and elastomers) that could be used to construct regional gathering networks.

Public Abstract

Gas Technology Institute (GTI)will provide information, testing regimes, and laboratory results for verifying the safe introduction of a new fuel, biogas/biomethane, into an increasingly non-metallic natural pipeline network. Achieving these objectives will help assess short- and long-term integrity impacts on a non-metallic gathering network from sustained biogas feedstock exposure, as well as provide information pertaining to effects of biomethane (cleaned biogas) on plastic/elastomeric pipeline. Specifically, GTI will: (a) compile/categorize analytical data specific to biogas/biomethane compositions, (b) identify candidate plastic pipe and elastomeric component material options for biogas/biomethane transport, (c) perform a literature-based compatibility study between gas samples and component materials, (d) develop and validate testing protocols for compatibility confirmation, and, (e) test representative biogas/biomethane samples against the selected non-metallic materials in controlled laboratory experiments.