For the foreseeable future steel is the normal material for high pressure energy pipelines. However for certain applications such as corrosive effluents, it would be highly advantageous for operators to have new pipeline material alternatives that provide advantages over steel. Therefore, PRCI is initiating this research project to explore the material alternatives that exist and identify solution alternatives for operators. To achieve the objective of the research, materials must be considered for the range of applications of interest to the energy industry, then selection, design and cost factors compiled into an efficient assessment and selection methodology.
The products of the work when completed will include a state-of-the-art literature review report and an alternative pipeline materials selection tool that operators can use to efficiently consider and select pipeline material alternatives to address a wide range of energy pipeline applications.