Reducing CO₂ emissions is a key target in all industrial sectors. In Oil & Gas, in July 2020, OGCI members agreed to reduce the carbon intensity of their operations by 2025 to between 20 and 21 kg of CO₂ per barrel of oil, from a baseline of 23 kg in 2017.

Vallourec has long been committed to reducing the CO₂ emissions of its own processes. And Vallourec already offers low-emission solutions to its customers and is developing new ones.

The development of new technologies such as digital, IoT, acoustic, nanotechnologies as well as non-destructive testing are paving the way for further opportunities to add extra features to Vallourec products and services and, thus, reduce our customers’ CO₂ footprint.

In this context, Vallourec would like to identify new solutions by selecting and working with innovative start-ups, laboratories and companies to enhance its products and contribute to reducing its customers’ carbon emissions. Along the entire value chain, from cradle to grave.

Enhancing bonding at pipe-cement interface

Propose solutions and/or technologies to ensure no leaks and mechanical performances for the long term :
• To ensure sustainable pipe/cement bonding (i.e. through such as surface structuration, nanotech coating, etc).
• To monitor the bonding (acoustic coupling, IoT, etc)

Applications: Decommissioned cemented O&G wells, CO₂ or H₂ storage wells, as well as civil construction and foundations.

Ensuring a 2^nd life for pipes and steel

Propose solutions and/or technologies to make sustainable and economically viable the reuse of pipes and steel :
• Mobile solutions to identify steel and condition
• Mobile solutions for pipe decontamination
• Innovative applications of pipes in their 2^nd life
• Solutions to improve efficiencies and reduce cost of transportation

Applications: All seamless steel grades used in O&G and in all industries

Solutions related to the above challenges will be considered and studied in priority. However, all proposed solutions will be taken into consideration.

• The submitted solutions must be designed for the following applications :
  - Solutions to the first challenge are more specifically for Oil & Gas and decommissioned cemented wells, storage wells of CO₂ or H₂, for very long-lasting cement-pipe bonding for civil construction and foundations.
  - Solutions to the second challenge are for seamless steel pipes: OCTG casings and tubing and/or pipes for line-pipe applications (risers, flowlines) and/or seamless steel pipes and profiles for industrial applications.
• The submitted solutions must withstand the specific environmental conditions of the applications and operations it is designed for.
  - More detailed information on the environmental conditions of the challenge “ensuring bonding at pipe-cement interface” as well as for the second challenge are available at Vallourec at Laurent.Delattre@vallourec.com
• Total cost of the solution (including the cost of implementation of the pipes and the cost of on-site installation if any) is a major criteria.
• Prototypes of the solution shall be fabricated for tests in a representative environment within 18 months.
• The solutions must be submitted by 2020, October 13 latest. The applicants of the best 4 solutions will be invited to pitch their solutions to Vallourec teams and top management on 2020, October 27.