API 570

Q – What to look for in concrete-to-air and asphalt-to-air interfaces, of buried piping without CP?
A – Evidence of caulking or seal deterioration, which will allow moisture ingress.

Q – What to do if found evidence of caulking or seal deterioration while inspecting concrete-to-air and
asphalt-to-air interfaces, of buried piping without CP, where piping system is older than 10 years?
A – Inspect corrosion beneath surface before resealing the joint

5.3.5 Service-specific and localized corrosion

Q – What are the objectives of a piping inspection program?

A–  To identify potential for service-specific and localized corrosion
 To identify TML points

Q – What are the 3 elements of an effective piping inspection program?

A–  Inspector knowledgeable of service and potential location of corrosion
 Extensive use of NDT
 Communication from operation personnel when process upsets may affect corrosion rates

• The common locations for service-specific and localized corrosions are:

→ Downstream of injection points
→ Upstream of product separators – hydroprocess reactor effluent lines
→ Dew-point corrosion in condensing streams – overhead fractionation
→ Unexpected acid or caustic carryover from processes into nonalloyed piping systems
→ Caustic carryover into piping system not PWHT
→ Ammonium salt condensation locations in hydroprocess streams
→ Mixed-phase flow and turbulent areas in acidic systems
→ Hot spot corrosion on piping with external steam tracing. SCC can occur at hot spots with low-
flow conditions

5.3.6 Erosion and corrosion/erosion

• Defined as removal of surface material by the action of numerous individual impacts of solid or
liquid particles
• Characterized by grooves, rounded holes, waves, valleys in directional pattern

Q – Where are the common locations of erosion?

A – Areas with turbulent flow → change of direction, downstream control valve where vaporization may
take place

• Erosion damage can be increased by streams with large quantities of solid or liquid particles
flowing at high velocities

Q – Where are the common locations of erosion/corrosion?

A – Areas with turbulent flow + high-velocity

• Common areas susceptible to erosion/corrosion

→ Downstream of control valve, especially when there is flashing
→ Downstream of orifices
→ Downstream of pump discharges
→ Point of flow direction change e.g. inside & outside radii of elbow
→ Downstream of piping configurations, such as welds, thermowelds, and flanges

Q – What are typical velocity-sensitive systems?

A – Ammonium hydrosulfide and sulfuric acid systems

Q – How to inspect areas with erosion/corrosion?

A – Use NDE methods that will give thickness data over a wide range → UT scanning, RT, ECT