ISO 27913:2016

Overview

ISO 27913:2016 provides additional requirements and recommendations for the pipeline transportation of carbon dioxide (CO2) streams between capture sites and geological storage or utilization (e.g., enhanced oil recovery). It applies to rigid metallic pipeline systems, both onshore and offshore, including conversion of existing pipelines and transport of CO2 in gaseous and dense phases. The standard defines the system boundaries (inlet valve at capture and the handover to storage infrastructure), and covers CO2 stream quality assurance, converging streams, and health, safety and environmental (HSE) aspects specific to CO2 transport and monitoring.

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

ISO 27913:2016 addresses practical engineering and operational topics critical to safe CO2 pipeline systems:

• CO2 properties and stream composition: thermodynamics, chemical reactions, corrosion potential, and effects of mixing streams from different sources.
• Concept development and design criteria: safety philosophy, reliability/availability, pressure control, overpressure protection, and short-term storage reserves.
• Flow assurance and dehydration: water content limits, hydrate avoidance, thermo‑hydraulic modeling, temperature control, and pigging strategies.
• Materials and pipeline design: internal corrosion mitigation, line pipe materials and coatings, non‑metallic components, lubricants, wall thickness calculations (design loads, ductile fracture, hydraulic shock), and fracture toughness considerations.
• Construction, pre‑commissioning and operation: dewatering/drying, preservation, initial filling/pressurization, venting, shut‑in and depressurization procedures.
• Inspection, monitoring and integrity management: inline inspection, water content monitoring, leak detection, re‑qualification of existing pipelines for CO2 service.
• Offshore considerations: facilities, venting and special measures for marine environments.

Practical Applications and Who Uses It

ISO 27913:2016 is intended for professionals involved in planning, designing, building and operating CO2 pipeline networks:

• Pipeline and process engineers designing CO2 transport systems
• Project developers and owners of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects
• Operators converting existing oil & gas pipelines to CO2 service
• Materials engineers and corrosion specialists
• Integrity managers, inspection and monitoring teams
• Regulators, safety assessors and environmental compliance teams
• EOR and CO2 utilization facility operators

Using this standard helps ensure safe, reliable CO2 transport, protect infrastructure integrity and meet regulatory and stakeholder expectations for CCUS projects.

Related Standards

ISO 27913 complements existing pipeline and oil & gas standards by addressing CO2‑specific issues (stream chemistry, phase behavior, dehydration, HSE). Project teams should apply ISO 27913 alongside applicable national and international pipeline codes and integrity-management standards to achieve a comprehensive compliance and design basis.

Keywords: ISO 27913:2016, CO2 pipeline transportation, carbon dioxide capture transportation storage, CO2 stream quality, pipeline design, flow assurance, pipeline dehydration, corrosion, integrity management, CCUS.