It's been more than twenty years since French Gas Infrastructures research, now carried out by Natran R&I, joined the international research association Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI). It's a partnership that has gone from strength to strength, in the service of an ever safer, more efficient and more sustainable pipeline transportation industry, and one in which we intend to play a leading role.
Explanations and testimonials on this commitment which, beyond being a long-term collaboration, represents a real strategic lever for tackling together the technical and environmental challenges facing our industries.
Identity card for a highly structured international organization
Founded in 1952 in the United States, the PRCI has become over the decades the global benchmark for research and development in the field of piped energy transmission infrastructures. Today, it brings together 36 members from the oil, gas and chemical industries, most of them North American.
The Executive Assembly is headed by a representative from each member organization, including Pierre Blouet, Director of NaTran R&I. This body takes decisions and provides the 9-member Executive Board, which prepares the decisions. Pierre Blouet is a member of this second body since last September, for a three-year term. A third pillar of governance completes this structure: the Research Steering Committee. Responsible for ensuring strategic coherence between the roadmaps drawn up by the Technical Committees and the PRCI objectives set by the Executive Committees, it also acts as an interface between these stakeholders, providing advice and support where necessary.
Thanks to its financial contribution, calculated in proportion to its kilometers of buried pipe, each member has access to the entire PRCI resource since its creation. An extremely rich and valuable database that promotes a better understanding of gas transport, as far as NaTran R&I is concerned, and of the related issues. Since summer 2024, this database has been searchable via an AI-powered ChatBot, enabling members to tap into a treasure trove of knowledge built up over several decades.
A collaborative, efficient, rapid and pragmatic approach
“PRCI's international vision and the sharing of research costs and successes are real levers for acceleration, helping to increase our legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of our peers and the authorities; committed participation is therefore essential,” emphasizes Pierre Blouet.
In order to take full advantage of these levers, NaTran R&I appoints a dedicated technical expert for each committee dealing with a theme in line with one of NaTran's strategic challenges. In these committees, projects are proposed with specifications and a budget, put to the vote of the members, then co-financed. For Project Manager Amélie Louvat, “in addition to the curiosity required for all research, participative work requires a sense of teamwork, humility and the ability to confront different environments”, she adds: “NaTran R&I provides skills, testing resources, scientific rigor and a powerful dynamic”. By way of example, the Emerging Fuel Institute (EFI), whose ambition is to work on hydrogen, biomethane and CO2, was created in 2021 under the impetus of 4 players including NaTran R&I.
NaTran R&I active in 5 technical committees
Joshua Schramme, Project Manager, takes the floor
"I'm mainly involved with the DMC Committee. I contribute my expertise in composite materials. I have proposed a project, which has been accepted, to test a Reinforced Thermo Plastic (RTP) pipe with the same qualities as steel, but offering greater robustness and durability against corrosion, micro-cracks, and so on. As a member of the Integrity and Inspection Committee, I'm also studying the impact of hydrogen and natural gas mixtures on steel pipelines. At PRCI, we form a community in which we benefit from each other's skills, thus gaining in speed and efficiency. And I'm proud of the fact that NaTran R&I is a proactive source of ideas; it's very stimulating."
Continuing together, exploring further
NaTran's participation in the PRCI is set to continue, with a number of projects on the agenda: continuing EFI's work in favor of new gases, launching research projects based on better use of AI, constantly demonstrating the value produced for members, and prosaically, seeking to increase the proportion of gas manufacturers, particularly European ones, within the PRCI. These are just some of the prospects for advancing the gas pipeline industry.
Crossed view
"PRCI and NaTran are united by a shared commitment to advancing the safety, reliability and sustainability of energy infrastructures through collaborative research. An esteemed and trusted member, NaTran R&I has always demonstrated leadership, technical excellence and a spirit of collaboration. Its researchers have led several high-impact projects, bringing not only in-depth expertise, but also helping to define the strategic direction of our research portfolio. Their participation has strengthened the global perspective of PRCI's work and helped foster collective innovation for the benefit of the entire sector. "Cliff Johnson, PRCI President
