CRC Evans grows presence in hydrogen market with completion of Romanian welding project

CRC Evans, a leading provider of welding and coating services, has successfully completed work on a Romanian hydrogen pipeline project, enhancing the company’s presence in the hydrogen sector.

The company’s experienced welding team was instrumental to the successful delivery of more than 5,100 mainline welds across a 50km pipeline in the Podisor region of the Black Sea, comprising both 40-inch and 48-inch diameters at 12.5mm wall thickness.

Initially intended to transport natural gas, the pipeline was redesigned to be constructed as ‘hydrogen ready’ in a move to support lifetime extension and future use.

CRC Evans collaborated with the end-client to understand the requirements of the infrastructure and provide an innovative solution based on a modification of an established welding approach, helping to address the additional challenges that working with hydrogen can bring.

There is a heightened risk of stress corrosion across the pipeline as a consequence of hydrogen permeating the steel microstructure. The company’s skilled personnel ensured low steel hardness throughout the weld, improving operational outcomes by combatting embrittlement and the increased risk of pipeline steel cracking.

This allowed CRC Evans to deliver a reliable welding procedure using its mechanised P625 dual torch welding system, where the resultant qualified parameters were able to meet the specific project requirements.

Completion of the project marks notable growth for the company in the hydrogen welding space, further enhancing its expertise in an emerging field.

Leon Dashwood, Strategic Growth Director at CRC Evans, said: “As the global trajectory towards net zero accelerates, the drive to reduce global emissions at pace has risen to the top of the agenda. Hydrogen can play a key role in this transition, with governments across the world now considering new strategies to support decarbonisation goals and plans for targeted investment across industrial, transportation and energy sectors.

“Creation of new infrastructure to support the manufacture, storage, and transportation of hydrogen, ensuring its safe and reliable delivery, will prove vital at this time. This recent success reinforces CRC Evans leading position as a trusted partner in these areas."

CRC Evans continues to support the global energy and wider infrastructure sectors, with diversification efforts contributing to new service offerings across renewable industries such as wind, carbon capture and nuclear.

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