A new international Joint Industry Project (JIP) has launched an initiative to standardize how the energy sector tests flexible pipelines for stress corrosion cracking, a move aimed at bolstering safety as operators push into increasingly carbon-rich environments.

Led by risk management firm DNV, the three-year project focuses on the susceptibility of tensile armor wires—the critical structural components of flexible pipelines—to carbon dioxide-induced stress corrosion cracking (CO2-SCC).

While flexible pipes are essential for offshore energy extraction, exposure to CO2 can cause sudden material degradation, posing significant environmental and financial risks.

The project, which kicked off in January 2026, aims to replace fragmented testing practices with a unified "pass/no pass" methodology. 

By establishing a systematic framework to safeguard pipelines in CO2 environments, the JIP seeks to reduce both the time and the high costs currently associated with small-scale material qualification.

"This initiative will deepen the industry's understanding of material behavior and strengthen the safety framework for flexible pipes operating in CO2 conditions," the project group stated.

The technical scope involves a rigorous test matrix performed across two specialized facilities: the INT and LAMEF laboratories. 

Researchers will analyze various carbon steel armor wire grades against critical environmental parameters to ensure the new guidelines are both reliable and reproducible across the industry.

While the study focuses on material-level insights for armor wires, the group noted that mid- or full-scale pipe testing remains outside the current scope. Instead, the final output will be a comprehensive industry guideline designed to provide robust support for managing CO2-SCC risks.

The project is currently in its definition phase, which is scheduled to conclude in the third quarter of 2026. This will be followed by a two-year small-scale testing program, culminating in the release of official industry guidelines by the end of 2028.

Organizers are still accepting additional partners to join the collaboration, with companies looking to contribute to the technical framework given until the end of the first quarter of 2026 to enter under equal conditions.