ISO 13623:2017/Amd 1:2024

Overview

ISO 13623:2017/Amd 1:2024 is an important amendment to the existing international standard for petroleum and natural gas industries focused on pipeline transportation systems. This amendment introduces complementary requirements for the safe and efficient transport of fluids containing carbon dioxide (CO₂) or hydrogen (H₂). As these substances are increasingly transported through pipelines for energy and industrial applications, this standard provides critical guidance on design, material selection, safety, and operational considerations.

Developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Subcommittee SC 2, this amendment aligns with ongoing industry needs to address the unique hazards and technical challenges presented by CO₂ and hydrogen fluids, complementing the base requirements in ISO 13623:2017.

Key Topics

• Fluids Categorization and Safety: Defines new criteria for category E fluids containing CO₂ or hydrogen, enforcing tailored safety and design measures to manage their specific risks.
• Carbon Dioxide Transport Requirements (Annex G):
  • Design considerations for CO₂ as an asphyxiant, mildly toxic, non-flammable, odourless, and corrosive substance.
  • Requirements ensure avoidance of two-phase flow and management of impurities impacting thermodynamic properties.
  • Reference to ISO 27913 for alignments with CO₂ capture, transport, and geological storage pipeline systems.
• Hydrogen Transport Requirements (Annex H):
  • Detailed guidance on handling hydrogen’s high flammability, embrittlement risk, leakage potential, and thermal expansion effects.
  • Specifications on materials compatibility, including the use of line pipe steel grades up to L485 and testing for hydrogen embrittlement resistance.
  • Design factors for hoop stress and fatigue life consideration adjusted for hydrogen's effects.
  • Recommendations for valve and flange design to minimize leaks and ignition risks.
• Safety and Risk Management:
  • Considerations of hydrogen hazard factors like ignitability, flame visibility, potential for deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT), and increased volumetric leak rates.
  • Population density assessments, frequency, and consequence analyses accounting for unique risks of CO₂ and hydrogen pipelines.
• Repurposing Existing Pipelines:
  • Guidelines to review, assess, and refurbish pipelines for hydrogen transport use safely, including integrity, hydraulic, and safety evaluations with conservative assumptions as needed.

Applications

ISO 13623:2017/Amd 1:2024 is essential for petroleum and natural gas operators, pipeline designers, engineers, and safety assessors involved in:

• Design and construction of pipelines transporting carbon dioxide or hydrogen
• Retrofitting or repurposing existing natural gas pipelines for CO₂ or hydrogen service
• Developing safety management systems considering the unique hazards of CO₂ and hydrogen
• Material selection and qualification for pipelines under demanding service conditions
• Risk and integrity management for emerging energy vectors integrating lower carbon and hydrogen fuels

This amendment supports industries transitioning towards decarbonization by facilitating the safe transport of CO₂ for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, helping to meet sustainability goals and regulatory compliance.

Related Standards

• ISO 13623:2017 – Base document on pipeline transportation systems in petroleum and natural gas industries.
• ISO 27913 – Carbon dioxide capture, transportation and geological storage pipeline systems, referenced for CO₂ transport.
• ISO 3183 – Specification for line pipe materials, applicable to hydrogen transport materials.
• API Spec 5L (46th edition, 2018) – Line pipe specification referenced for hydrogen service.
• ISO/TR 15916 – Safety and environmental considerations for hydrogen.
• ISO 11114-2 / ISO 11114-4 – Guidance on material compatibility and testing regarding hydrogen embrittlement.
• ASME B31.12 – Hydrogen piping and pipeline code with guidance on hydrogen effects on fatigue and integrity.

Keywords: ISO 13623 amendment, pipeline transportation systems, carbon dioxide pipeline transport, hydrogen pipeline safety, CO₂ fluid transportation, hydrogen embrittlement, pipeline material requirements, pipeline repurposing, petroleum and natural gas standards, pipeline design for hydrogen and CO₂, pipeline fatigue and fracture toughness, pipeline risk management.