The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a new industry standard aimed at strengthening safety and reliability across the rapidly expanding CO2 pipeline sector.
The newly published API Recommended Practice 1192 (RP 1192) establishes performance-based guidance for transporting carbon dioxide by pipeline, addressing the full lifecycle of CO2 pipeline systems from design and construction through operation and maintenance.
As interest grows in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), CO2 pipelines are becoming a more prominent part of US energy infrastructure. Developers are not only building new systems but also evaluating whether existing oil and gas pipelines can be repurposed for CO2 service.
While CO2 pipelines already fall under federal hazardous liquid regulations, API says the new recommended practice responds to the distinct physical and chemical behaviors of CO2 that are not fully addressed by existing standards.
Addressing the Unique Properties of CO2
Unlike conventional petroleum liquids, CO2 can transition between gas, liquid and supercritical phases depending on pressure and temperature. RP 1192 provides guidance tailored to these characteristics, covering topics such as pressure management, fracture control, corrosion risks and interactions with non-metallic materials. Although the document primarily focuses on supercritical and liquid-phase CO2 transport, it also includes considerations for gas-phase operations.
API developed the standard by convening a broad group of technical experts with experience across pipeline engineering, operations and integrity management. The goal was to create a consistent framework that supports safe system performance while offering flexibility for different project designs and operating environments.
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The guidance also addresses practical challenges facing developers, including how to safely convert existing pipeline assets for CO2 transport and how to plan for emergency response scenarios specific to CO2 releases.
“By consolidating technical knowledge into a single document, it supports the safe, reliable operation of CO2 pipeline systems and advances API’s ongoing commitment to safety and innovation,” said API Senior Vice President of Global Industry Services Anchal Liddar.
API says the new recommended practice will help provide greater clarity for project developers, regulators and communities as CO2 pipeline networks expand alongside broader decarbonization efforts.
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