Release without ignition from a refinery pipeline

During an inspection tour, a worker detected a hydrogen leak in a refinery on a footbridge, 30 meters high. The exact location of the release was identified 4 days later, on a pipe covered by a thermal insulation. Workers equipped with Self Contained breathing Apparatus removed the insulation and found the leak at a reinforcing saddle.

The installation was shut down and put under nitrogen. Thickness measurements and radiographic checks were used to characterise the nature of the crack defect.
A leak sealing system was put in place, while awaiting the removal of the pipework for assessment during the next shutdown.

The INITIATING cause of the leak was a crack defect on the reinforcing saddle of a hydrogen pipe.
No detailed is known on the failure mechanism.

hydrogen pipeline

The installation is shut down and put under nitrogen. A leak sealing system is put in place, allowing for further operation till the next shutdown when the pipework will be replaced.