Cathodic Protection - Monitoring and Maintenance

This is the sixth in a series of presentations by the South East Branch of PIG in the field of external pipe corrosion and cathodic protection.

This presentation explains the requirements and the practicalities of pipeline cathodic protection monitoring and maintenance for non-specialists.

It explains why the monitoring is necessary and what maintenance is recommended. The main pipeline above-ground survey techniques are discussed.

An example of the very latest technical developments in the reporting of routine monitoring and maintenance surveys is given.

Pin Brazing for Cathodic Protection Applications - A Beginner's Guide

Pin Brazing is ideally suited for many applications including continuity bonding between pipes, across flanges, connection of cathodic protection test and current carrying cables and connection of bracelet galvanic anodes etc.

The Pin Brazing equipment is very robust, easy to operate, easy to maintain and ideal for on site works.

The kit is powered by a 36V DC battery pack (or suitable welding generator when using the generator gun) capable of delivering 240A for use with fused brazing pins, ceramic ferrules and cable lugs.

With the earth device in place the gun trigger is depressed and after approximately 1.5 to 2 seconds the circuit is mechanically broken as the fuse wire breaks, and the brazing pin is held into the molten pool of brazing alloy that rapidly cools into a homogenous and very strong connection.

This short video demonstrates the three key steps to applying a successful pin braze to a structure for cathodic protection cabling.

The video has been presented in slow motion to better highlight each of the processes.

A Pipeline Designer's Guide to Cathodic Protection

As part of our ongoing free webinar series with The Pipeline Industries Guild, our latest presentation “Pipeline Designer’s Guide to Cathodic Protection” is now available on YouTube.

The aim of the presentation is to provide information to pipeline designers on the factors that can influence the effectiveness of the external corrosion protection system - coatings, cathodic protection and electrical interference.

The technical information is given in such a way that it is understandable to people that are not corrosion specialists.

High Speed AC Railways & Pipelines - Corrosion and Safety Risks

This presentation was made by Ken Lax, Technical Director of Corroconsult, on behalf of the Pipeline Industries Guild (PIG) Onshore Panel as part of their ongoing free webinar series.

The aim of the presentation is to provide information to pipeline operators about the risk of accelerated corrosion and unacceptable touch potentials caused by high speed AC trains.

The presentation covers the following:

• Corrosion risks

• Risks to Personnel and the Public

• Induction

• Conduction

• Mitigation

The presentation makes reference to the relevant sections of the following standards:

• ISO 18086

• BS EN 50443

• IEC 60050-195-05-09

• BS EN 50122-2

• BS EN 50162

• ISO 21857

Additional content for the presentation prepared by Richard Lindley (Corroconsult), Matthew Bamber (Corroconsult) and Charalambos Charalambous (University of Cyprus).

Beginners' Guide to Cathodic Protection

This presentation was made by Ken Lax, Technical Director of Corroconsult, on behalf of the Pipeline Industries Guild (PIG) Onshore Panel as part of their ongoing free webinar series.

The presentation is intended for non-specialists to provide an overview of cathodic protection and stray current corrosion.

No electrical or electrochemical knowledge is assumed.

The presentation is non-mathematical and with only a sprinkling of science. It is a description of the processes, rather than a technical analysis.

The presentation covers the following;

• Why steel corrodes

• The role of coatings

• Pipeline Cathodic Protection - General Description

• Cathodic Protection - Galvanic / Sacrificial Anodes

• Cathodic Protection - Impressed Current

• Efffects of DC Stray Currents on External Corrosion

• Effects of Induced AC on External Corrosion

How can Solar Farms affect Buried Pipelines and what can be done about it?

This presentation was made by Ken Lax, Technical Director of Corroconsult, on behalf of the Pipeline Industries Guild (PIG) Onshore Panel as part of their ongoing free webinar series.

The presentation is aimed as a non-tenchnical introduction to this rapidly growing phenomenon, within the field of corrosion, as the scale and number of photovoltaic (PV) systems, i.e. solar farms, increase worldwide.

No electrical or electrochemical knoweledge is assumed.

An overview of the following is given;

• External corrosion on buried pipelines

• Cathodic protection and coatings

• Effects of stray current on external corrosion

• Photovoltaic (PV) system construction components

• Sources of electrical interference from PV systems

• Prevention of stray currents from PV systems

• Mitigation of adverse effects on buried pipelines

The scope of the presentation covers the follwoing three possibilities;

• New PV System with Existing Pipeline

• Existing PV System with Existing Pipeline

• Existing PV System with New Pipeline

All slides prepared by Ken Lax and Richard Lindley (Projects Director at Corroconsult UK Limited) with additional content provided by Professor C. Charalambous (Univeristy of Cyprus) and Dr Thomas Löffler (Dekotec).

DCVG Survey - A Beginner's Guide [Part 1]

Direct Current Voltage Gradient [DCVG] Survey

Introduction

This non-intrusive, above ground survey allows the operator to identify the location of coating defects (holidays).

We are pleased to announce the first uploaded animation to our YouTube channel (shown within this post).

The YouTube video represents the first instalment within a series. Its purpose is to give an introductory overview to people not familiar with the technique e.g. asset owners, operators, supervisors.

Recognition within International Standards for Buried Pipelines

The technique is an approved ECDA (External Corrosion Direct Assessment) method as detailed in ANSI / NACE Standard Practice SP 0502-2010.

DCVG is also listed as an above-ground survey used to assess the coating condition and to locate coating defects within:

• BS EN 13509:2003 - Cathodic protection measurement techniques
• BS EN ISO 15589-1:2017. Petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Cathodic protection of pipeline systems. On-land pipelines

All DCVG surveys should be undertaken by competent and qualified personnel in accordance with BS EN ISO 15257:2017 - Cathodic protection - Competence levels of cathodic protection persons.

This short animation shows the technique to be utilised for a DCVG (Direct Current Voltage Gradient) survey using an analogue voltmeter and matched electrodes.

The video covers the basic methodology in identifying, centering and measuring coating defects (holidays) in the field [OL/RE Potential]

This "How To" guide is intended for asset owners, operators and supervisors that may not be familiar with the technique.