Hadhramout University of Science & Technology

Mukalla, Republic of Yemen

Managing Corrosion
in the Oil & Gas Industry
Theory and practice of corrosion and
corrosion prevention

Marcel ROCHE

Part 4 March 27 – 31, 2010

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Managing Corrosion in the Oil & Gas
Industry

Cathodic Protection and

associated coatings

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Managing Corrosion in the Oil & Gas
Industry

Cathodic Protection
Principles, criteria, limitations

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Principles of cathodic protection (CP)

 CP is used to fight against “wet corrosion”

(electrochemical process) produced by liquid water
in contact with metal when electrolyte is continuous
 Cost efficient in moderately corrosive electrolytic
environments : waters (mainly seawater, field
waters), soils (and marine mud), concrete
 Cathodic protection is potentially efficient against
any kind of electrochemical corrosion, including
galvanic corrosion, differential aeration corrosion,
MIC, fatigue-corrosion, stress corrosion cracking,
stray current corrosion,...

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Definitions
From ISO 8044 Standard " Corrosion of metals
and alloys – Principal terms and definitions ":

Electrochemical Protection: technique of

protection against corrosion through electrical
control of corrosion potential.

• Cathodic Protection: Electrochemical Protection

through decrease of corrosion potential at a level
for which the corrosion rate of metal is
significantly reduced.

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Principle of cathodic protection

Electrolyte (environment)

METAL
Ia
Anode
(corrosion)
2e

Cathode
Ic
(protection)
Principles of cathodic protection

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Principle of cathodic protection

Cathodic Protection is aimed at reducing corrosion

through metal - electrolyte electrochemical potential
decrease (towards more negative values), which:
 reduces anodic reaction rate (oxidation of metal)
 Fe ---> Fe 2+ + 2e-
 increases cathodic reaction(s) rate(s) (reduction of
oxidising species present in the electrolyte)
 ½ O2 + H2O + 2e- ---> 2 OH-
 2 H+ + 2e- ---> 2H
 2 H2O + 2e- ---> 2 OH- + 2H

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Principles of cathodic protection
Cathodic Protection (may) provoke:
Always an alkalinisation of aqueous phase at the metal
surface
 positive effect : precipitation of protective calcareous
deposits at the metal surface
 detrimental effects: blistering of sensitive paints,
disbonding of coatings, alkaline corrosion of
amphoteric metals
Sometimes significant formation of atomic hydrogen
 detrimental effects: embrittlement of sensitive alloys,
safety problems inside protected capacities
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Criteria for evaluation of CP efficiency
Protection criteria are based on theory
(thermodynamics and kinetics) but adapted
from field practical experience
Main basic criterion for carbon or low-alloy
steels:
 in soils: < -0.85 V / saturated Cu-CuSO4 (limited to >
-1.2 V to prevent H embrittlement and coating
disbonding)
 in seawater and brackish waters: < -0.80 V / Ag-

AgCl-seawater (limited to > -1.1V for preventing

increase of propagation rate of cracks)

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Criteria for evaluation of CP efficiency
saturated Cu-CuSO4
+ 0,32
ECS ~ Ag-AgCl-seawater
+ 0,25

NHE (official)
0

POTENTIAL
V/NHE - 0,53 - 0,78 - 0,85

Protection threshold
- 0,53

+ 0,27
Zn - seawater - 1,05
- 0,80
Criteria for evaluation of CP efficiency
Modulations of criterion around the basic value:
incase of “high” bacterial activity” (SRB) in
anaerobic environments or temperature > 60°C:
< -0.95 V / saturated Cu-CuSO4
or -0.90 V / Ag-AgCl-seawater
in very resistive sandy soils:
< -0.75 V between 100 and 1000 Ohm.m and
< -0.65 V / sat. Cu-CuSO4 above 1000 Ohm.m (EN
12954, ISO 13623 and ISO 15589-1)
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100 mV shift criteria
Alternatively, some standards (NACE, ISO 15589-1)
specify a minimum potential shift of 100 mV (if no high
SRB activity or high temperature)
E1: EN : free corrosion
potential
E2: EOFF
E3: EON
t1: CP is switched off or
the coupon is disconnected
t2: Time at which it is
not possible to measure any
significant variation of the
potential
A: CP is applied
B: Depolarisation (or
polarisation decay) curve
C: Amount of
depolarisation (amount of
polarisation decay)
2 - 3: IR drop

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Criteria for CP of stainless steels

 Polarisation to prevent localised corrosions

(pitting or crevice corrosion) in chloride
containing environments:
- 0,3 to - 0,6 V/Ag-AgCl-seawater
 Stable passivation
 Complete protection:
-0,8 V/Ag-AgCl-seawater
 Immunity
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Current densities for achieving CP (for
design purposes)
For uncoated carbon and low-alloy steels:
inseawater: 60 (warm seas) to 220 mA /m2 (agitated cold
seas)
Current density increases when 02 access increases
(hence when temperature decreases or turbulence increases)

in sea bottom muds: 20 to 25 mA/m2

in soils: 10 (dry soils) to 20 (wet soils) mA/m2
infresh waters: 20 (stagnant cold water) to 150 (flowing
hot water) mA/m2
in concrete: < 1 (preventive) to 10 (curative) mA/m2

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Current densities for achieving CP
The formation of a “calcareous deposit”
(insoluble salts of calcium and magnesium) in
seawater reduces current density:
- - 2-
HCO3  OH  H 2O  CO3
2
Ca  CO  CaCO3 2-
3

Mg  2OH  Mg (OH ) 2
2 

2 2 2
Ca  Mg  2CO
3  CaCO3 .MgCO3

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Current densities for achieving CP

250
Densité de courant (mA/m2 )

200

150

100

50

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Temps (jours)
Evolution of current density at a location of an
experimental structure (K node) cathodically protected
vs. Immersion time - Effect of calcareous deposits
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Coatings associated with CP
Aims of associated coatings:

Complementary protection to cathodic protection in order to ensure

one of the following roles:
- limit current consumption, hence the weight of anodes
- produce a rapid polarisation,
- ensure a long span of protection in complex geometry areas,
- ensure a better homogeneity of current over the structure,
- reduce global cost of protection.

Main protection (passive) against corrosion seconded by a cathodic

protection (active) at places where the coating is damaged
The coating system has to be compatible with cathodic protection.

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Influence of coatings on current density

 Reduction of protective current density vs. efficiency

of eventual coating (initial and after ageing): notions of
coating breakdown factor:
 x = 0 when coating effectiveness is 100 %
 x = 1 when no (more) coating
 This is the most difficult parameter to assess
 pipelines coatings : from 0.2 à 20% , depending on
pipeline plant and field joint coatings
 paint coating systems: from 2 to 50 %

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Limitations for use and efficiency of
cathodic protection
Absence of continuity or bad electrical continuity:
in the electrolyte (ionic conduction): intermittent
contacts, shielding effect (disbonded coatings, thermal
insulation sheaths)
===> lack of protection
inthe metallic structure (electronic conduction): bad
designs, insulating joints electrolytically short-circuited,
non continuous concrete rebars,...
===> local increase of corrosion where
current flows out the metal

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Corrosion due to bad design of impressed
current installed on an existing structure
+ -

i k a

Corrosion of a bracing of jacket

Corrosion at insulating joints
electrolytically internally short-circuited

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Detrimental effects of cathodic protection
Cathodic disbonding (loss of
adherence) of sensitive coatings
Hydrogen embrittlement:
 conventional C Steels above yield
strength (dents)
 sensitive alloys (high strength steels,
supermartensitic 13 % Cr and duplex
stainless steels): HISC (Hydrogen
Induced Stress Cracking)
 hydration of Ti
Alkaline corrosion of amphoteric
metals (Al, Zn, Pb)
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Cathodic disbonding of coatings

Conventional test
conditions:
-Water with 3 % NaCl
-Potential of steel at -1,5
V/ECS r (mm) = Loss of
-Duration 28 days adherence
around initial
-Ambient temperature (or artificial coating
maximum operating) defect due à OH-

2 days @ 60°C ≠ 28 days @ 20°C

Cathodic disbonding of coatings
Alkaline corrosion of aluminium alloys

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Alkaline corrosion of aluminium alloys

No magnesium anodes to protect hulls made of Al alloys

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Managing Corrosion in the Oil & Gas
Industry

Cathodic Protection
Systems

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How to supply cathodic protection

The decrease of potential at a sufficient level is

achieved through the flow of a (D.C.) cathodic current
from the aqueous phase (electrolyte) to the metal to
protect
This current is produced by one of these methods:
 galvanic coupling with a less noble alloy: Galvanic
Systems with sacrificial anodes based on Mg, Zn or Al
 direct current (dc) impressed by an external electric
power source (transformer/rectifier, photovoltaïc solar
cells,…) using anodes which may be consumable,
semi-inert or inert: Impressed Current Systems

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Anodic current output
 Cathodic protection current flows out of anodes always
through oxidation electrochemical reactions
 It may be oxidation of metal, when consumable:
Mg → Mg 2+ + 2 e-
Zn → Zn 2+ + 2 e-
Al → Al 3+ + 3 e-
Fe → Fe 2+ + 2 e-

 It may be oxidation of some chemical species of

electrolyte around anode:
H2O → 1/2O2 + 2H+ + 2e-
2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e-
 Environment becomes oxidising and acidic,
consequently corrosive for polymeric materials used
for electrical insulation of connections
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CP with galvanic anodes

Electrical insulation of cables and

connections not necessary (steel
or Cu more noble than anode)

Protection

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Galvanic anodes

Galvanic anodes are made of very specific

alloys demonstrating good electrochemical
characteristics (potential and efficiency)

Zinc anodes introduced on ship hulls (initially war ships) from

experiments of Sir H. Davy at the 19th century
Magnesium anodes introduced for buried structures in the
1930’s and further for offshore platforms in Maracaibo Lake
and Gulf of Mexico
From the 1940’s, US and French Navies demonstrated
importance of zinc purity (Fe content), leading to the
development of specific Zn alloys for CP from 1955 to 1960

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Galvanic anodes

 Aluminium anodes have replaced progressively Mg and

Zn alloys in chloride containing environments such as
seawater (cost savings):
 Studies on Al-Zn and Al-Zn-Sn from 1945
 Development of Al-Zn-Hg anodes in USA (1956) and
in France (1959)
 Al-Zn-In replaced Al-Zn-Hg from 1970’s
 Al-Zn-Ga developped for « low cathodic polarisation
level » of materials very sensitive to hydrogen
embrittlement

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Electrochemical characteristics of galvanic
anodes
 Electrochemical « open circuit », for information
Electrochemical « closed circuit » (coupling with a
cathode): Determines the current output
Anodic polarisation curve of material (to be as
« horizontal » as possible)
Anodic capacity expressed in A.h/kg
Practical consumption rate expressed in kg/A.yr
Electrochemical efficiency: part of mass consumption
giving current for CP = difference with Faraday’s due to
self corrosion

Practical consumption rate x Anodic capacity = 8760

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Faraday’s law
Theoretical massic consumption = 100 % of
electrochemical efficiency for metals used for
galvanic anodes:
 for dissolution of Al: 1F  27/3 = 9 g
 theoretical consumption = 2,9 kg/A.yr
 for dissolution of Zn: 1F  66/2 = 33 g
 theoretical consumption = 10,8 kg/A.yr
 for dissolution of Mg: 1F  24/2 = 12 g
 theoretical consumption = 3,9 kg/A.yr

 Practicalmassic consumption rate always higher due to

self-corrosion (efficiency < 100 %)

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Testing of electrochemical characteristics
of galvanic anodes
 Measurement of practical
consumption rate (or
electrochemical efficiency):
comparison of the weight
loss of the sample of an
anode alloy with the
integrated current output
 Short term tests with
impressed current for
quality control
 Long term « free running »
tests for qualification of
anode material
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Composition of magnesium anodes
As per prEN12496
Composition in weight %

Elements Alloy M 1 Alloy M 2

Mn 0,25 min 0,5 – 1,5

Al 5-7 0,05 max
Zn 2-4 0,03 max
Fe 0,005 max 0,03 max
Cu 0,08 max 0,02 max
Si 0,3 max 0,05 max
Pb 0,03 max 0,01 max
Ni 0,003 max 0,002 max
Others 0,3 max

Alloy M 1 as per ASTM B843-93

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Composition of zinc anodes
As per prEN12496 Composition in weight %

Elements Alloy Z 1 Alloy Z 2 Alloy Z 3 Alloy Z 4

Al 0,1-0,5 0,005 max 0,10 – 0,20 0,10 – 0,25

Cd 0,025 – 0,07 0,003 max 0,04 – 0,06 0,001 max
Fe 0,005 max 0,0014 max 0,0014 max 0,002 max
Cu 0,005 max 0,002 max 0,005 max 0,001 max
Pb 0,006 max 0,003 max 0,006 max 0,006 max
Sn - - 0.01 max -
Mg - - 0,5 max 0,05 – 0,15
Others 0,10 max 0,005 max 0,1 max 0,1 max
Zn remaining 99,99 min remaining remaining

Alloy Z1 as per U.S. MIL-A-18001-K (1993) or ASTM B418,Type I.

Alloy Z2 "high purity" as per ASTM B418, Type II
Alloy Z 4 for high temperatures (up to 85 °C)
Types Z1, Z2 et Z3 limited to 50 – 60 °C

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Composition of aluminium anodes
As per prEN12496 Composition in weight %

Elements Alloy A 1 Alloy A 2 Alloy A 3 Alloy A 4

Zn 2.0 – 6.0 3.0 – 5,5 4,75 – 5,75 0,15 max

In 0,010 – 0,030 0,016 - 0,040 0,016 – 0,020 0,005 max

Ga - - - 0,092 - 0,110
Fe 0,12 max 0,09 max 0.06 max 0,08 max
Si 0,12 max 0,10 max 0.08 – 0.12 0,10 max
Cu 0,006 max 0,005 max 0,003 max 0,005 max
Cd 0.002 max 0.002 max 0.002 max

Other 0,02 max 0,02 max 0,02 max

impurities(each)
Other impurities 0.1 max 0,1 max 0.05 max
(total)
Alloy A 1 for marine applications
Alloy A 2 for offshore applications
Alloy A 3 for deep offshore and cold waters
Alloy A 4 for low cathodic polarisation applications

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Characteristics of galvanic anodes

Typical characteristics of galvanic anodes in seawater

at ambient temperature

Type of alloy Potential Electro- Anodic Practical

mV vs chemical capacity consumption
Ag/AgCl/ efficiency Ah/kg rate
seawater (%) kg/A.yr
Al-Zn-In -1090 88 2600 3,5
Zn -1030 95 780 11,2
Mg (M1) -1500 50 1230 7,1

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Comparative costs of anodes (supply only)

Material Al Zn Mg
Cost of alloy 3 2.3 7.6
(€/kg)

Consumption 3.5 11.2 7.7

rate
(Kg /A.yr)

Cost of 10.5 25.8 58.5

protection
(€/A.yr)

Costs ratio 1 2.5 5.6

Selection of galvanic alloys
Magnesium
 most “active” i.e. negative potential (rapid polarisation, long span)
 short lifetime (temporary protection)
 the most expensive

Zinc
 reliable in all conditions up to 60°C (very safe when buried, with low
initial current output, e.g. on well coated structures)
 not reliable at higher temperature

Aluminium
 the less expensive
 remains active at high temperature (but low efficiency)
 modern alloys qualified for use on coated structures in chloride
containing environments (e.g. marine and offshore structures)
 not active in soils
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CP with impressed current

Electrical insulation of positive cables and

connections mandatory (corrosion if current flows out)
Corrosion

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Characteristics of impressed current anodes

Steel: 9.1 kg/A.yr

As per DNV RP B101:

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Selection criteria for CP systems
Galvanic anodes Impressed current
Installation simple complex
Power source no yes
Current distribution on protected Homogeneous May be heterogeneous
structure
Size of the structure to protect May be important but possibility OK for large
of weight, excess and elongated structures
Not easy for elongated structures
Influence of environment resistivity Not possible if too high resistivity No problem

Anode current output low high

Number of anodes important low
Operating flexibility Self-regulation or resistors High flexibility

Risks of overprotection Practically nil except with possible

magnesium anodes
Interferences with other structures Low risk High risk
Safety hazards negligible possible
Monitoring / maintenance low Mandatory, necessitating
Specialised technicians

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Managing Corrosion in the Oil & Gas
Industry

CP and associated coatings

Applications

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Cathodic Protection in Oil & Gas Industry

In the oil industry, cathodic protection is widely used

for the protection against corrosion, mainly for:
 offshore platforms and all other submerged facilities,
 buried or submerged flow-lines and pipelines,
 well casings,
 external side of storage tank bottoms,
 inside of vessels, ballasts and storage tanks,
 jetties and other coastal structures,
 foundations of structures in contact with soil or
water.

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Managing Corrosion in the Oil & Gas
Industry

CP and associated coatings

Applications to structures in
contact with soil

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Air-exposed pipelines

In some desert dry regions steel may be

left bare without significant
atmospheric corrosion
Several pipelines have been installed
directly bare on the ground, leading to
difficulties to prevent corrosion at steel
surface in contact with soil by CP
Pipeline should be preferably installed
on slippers to prevent contact with soil
Itis always better to coat and bury
onshore pipelines

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Buried Pipelines

Buried pipelines for transportation of petroleum

products, gas and chemicals (in conjunction with a
passive protection coating):
 most often using impressed current, sometimes completed by
stray currents drainage systems
 systematically used and frequently mandatory
 mandatory in France for gas distribution networks (“arrêté”
dated July 13, 2000) and for pipelines transporting gas, liquid
hydrocarbons and other dangerous products through the arrêté
dated Aug. 4, 2006.

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External Corrosion Management of buried
or immersed pipelines
For a better efficiency of CP and often to ensure its feasibility,
a coating is always applied on steel surface
As long as coatings remain bonded to steel and CP correctly
applied, no corrosion risk. Disbonding of coatings may prevent
access of CP current to steel exposed to a corrosive
electrolyte (renewal, presence of SRB,…) if it is not conductive
and/or homogeneous enough: "CP current shielding effect"
No corrosion experienced so far in seawater due to its high
conductivity and homogeneity
Many cases of failures on "conventional" coatings (bituminous
enamels, tapes) and increasing number of cases of
disbonding, some with corrosion, with PE, HSS, FBE

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No disbonding, good protection

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The "CP shielding effect" under disbonded
coatings

SOIL/ELECTROLYTE

O2
CP Currents CO2
…

COATING

STEEL PROTECTED CORRODING ? PROTECTED

Basic Requirements for Pipeline Coatings
Corrosion under disbonded coatings is pernicious because difficult
to detect completely using the best CP inspection methods, the only
safe way being intelligent pigging
Consequently, enough care should be taken for the selection and
application of coating to prevent disbonding
This means that the coating should be applied in a plant on pipe
lengths to ensure quality (surface preparation, hot application). It has
to resist to handling, transportation and laying and to service
conditions (especially maximum operating temperature)
The field joint coating applied on girth weld areas after welding must
be compatible with the plant coating and resist to service conditions
Products,coating applicator and plant or field equipment and
personnel must be pre-qualified to contribute to Quality

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Experience with bituminous enamels
 "Over-the-ditch" coatings were used
initially but abandoned more than 30
years ago due to the frequent bad
quality of application, depending on
the weather conditions
 Plant applied coatings suffered from
mechanical brittleness
 Corrosion under disbonded coatings
was experienced in various places
 Still used only for large diameter
offshore pipelines with concrete
weight coating

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Corrosion under disbonded bituminous
coatings
Corrosion or Stress Corrosion Iraq
Cracking

Argentina France

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Experience with cold applied tapes
 When used over-the-ditch, same problems that with
enamels due to bad quality of application
 Severe corrosion and sometimes SCC under disbonded
tapes
 Tapes are now only used for some minor field joint coating
projects or field repairs

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Experience with Heat-shrinkable sleeves
(HSS)
 HSS widely used for field joint coatings, mainly when plant
coating is PE
 Fast curing liquid epoxy primer coating is used to
increase adherence
 Some PP high temperature sleeves are qualified
 Many recent cases of corrosion under disbonded HSS
 Disbonding of HSS due to acceptation of surface
preparation by brush cleaning, accelerated by high
temperature
 Corrosion under disbonded HSS due to penetration of
water at not bonded overlap over 3LPE plant coating and
CP current shielding effect preventing CP

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Corrosion under disbonded HSS

18" Gabon (> 55°C, 15 years) 16’’ Syria (50°C, 12 years)

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How to prevent corrosion under disbonded
field joint coatings
Sa 2,5 abrasive cleaning and epoxy
primer for onshore application
mandatory when HSS chosen
Increased use of liquid applied PU
or epoxy (e.g. Yemen LNG with
3LPE parent coating)
Qualification by "Pull-off tests" (ISO
4624) after immersion in water at
23°C, 60°C and 80°C during 28 days

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Experience with PE coatings
 PE coatings introduced in Europe 40 years ago, monolayer
(fusion of powder), followed by 2-layer extruded: adherence
problems encountered
 For offshore concrete coated pipelines, it is necessary to
improve sheer strength to avoid slipping in tensioners
between PE and concrete
 An epoxy primer layer has been introduced at the end of the
70's to improve peeling strength of extruded PE coatings
(>600 N/50mm) and cathodic disbonding : 3-layer coatings
 Very good performance until several problems of massive
loss of adhesion have been reported: Increasing number of
identified massive disbondments of 3LPE coatings (initially
in India, South America, Iran, Pakistan)

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Disbonding of 3LPE coatings

Main common characteristics of

failures:
disbonding of FBE on the steel surface,
often looking as just abrasive cleaned,
always without any significant corrosion
PE remains compressed on pipe, without 60 °C
gap
identified only on buried pipelines (after
cuts)
35 °C
comparison with spare pipes from the
same production does not reveal loss of
adherence
due to in-service conditions: physico-
chemical (soil, potential) or mechanical
(stresses) parameters

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Possible explanation of disbonding of PE

Water and oxygen diffusion through PE

Water saturation of FBE layer, depending on
epoxy type ("sensitivity" to water)
Superficialcorrosion of steel surface under
water saturated FBE forming magnetite
All steps accelerated by temperature
Presence of stress in multilayer system may
explain massive disbonding (as compared with
FBE)
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Experience with Three-layer Polypropylene
(3LPP)
 introduced at the end of the 80's,
mainly for high temperature resistance,
due to failures with FBE above 90°C
 interesting also for higher mechanical
resistance than 3LPE (selection for
rough transportation conditions or
rocky soils)
 adherence higher than 3LPE and
maintained at high temperature (>
250N/50mm at 100°C)
 1st use by Total in 1990 offshore
Angola for temperature about 110°C
 no significant failure reported today but
the risk of disbondment could be the
same

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Experience with FBE

Fusion-Bonded Epoxy
coatings are the most current
coatings used in several
countries (USA, UK, …)
Thin coatings generally
prevent corrosion under
disbonding
However, case of corrosion
under blistered FBE on an
onshore buried pipeline in
France (Temperature
fluctuating between 40 and
100 °C, design MOT 100°C)
Impressed Current systems for soil
applications
Power source, e.g. T/R
(Transfo-rectifier)
Anode ground beds
- scrap steel (rails, pipes)
Cu D> - silicon-iron
Cables 50m - graphite
16 mm² - magnetite
- MMO (Mixed Metal Oxides)

backfill for reducing

resistivity of soil and
increasing homogeneity

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Impressed Current Cathodic Protection

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Galvanic systems for soil applications

Test 5 mA < I < 20 mA

point soil < 50 Ohm.m
distance anode/pipe > 3 m

Cu
Cables magnesium or zinc
16 mm² anodes

backfill for
reducing resistivity
of soil and
increasing
homogeneity
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Galvanic systems for soil applications

Don’t
forget to
remove
the bag!

Pre-backfilled magnesium anode

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Protection of plants and buried piping

Buried piping in plants:

 non systematic (e.g. for fire-fighting circuits)
 trend to install long anodes for local protection in complex
plants (to concentrate protection and avoid interferences with
other structures consuming current such as earthing circuits
and concrete structures)

Integral protection of plants:

 pipings, bottoms of tanks, concrete foundations, earthing
networks (general case, where they are not isolated from
protected structures with approved devices). Use of deep
anodes

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Buried tanks
in France and other countries, CP is mandatory for LPG
or other flammable tanks
 large spheres or cylinders buried on embankments in plants (DMT/P n°
26290 dated 30 July 1993)
 domestic small buried propane tanks to dispense them from 10-year
visits (DMT/P n° 29456 dated 30 July 1997)

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Above-ground storage tanks
 CP of external side of bottom non systematic, depending
on the nature of foundation.
 Often difficult to achieve if not included in initial design
of new tank
 Shortage of CP current by earthing networks made in
bare Cu. Better to use galvanised steel and/or insulated
cables near tank
 Not always 100 % efficient (imperfect contact between
steel bottom and soil due to air trapped consecutive to
phases when the tank is emptied)
 Trend to install PE membrane under tank bottom for
prevention of pollution for new tanks: implementation of
Ti (MMO) grid between bottom and membrane
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Above-ground storage tanks (without
membrane)

Connexion négative
Bac
Coffret de Redresseur
jonction
+ -

Sable

Anodes profondes
Above-ground storage tanks (with
membrane)
Réservoir

Courant de
protection
Sable

Sol naturel Ruban anodique

Pas de perte vers la mise à la terre

Membrane (diélectrique)
Sable
Support
en béton Passage du courant bloqué par la membrane

Perte de courant vers les mises à la terre

Mises à la terre

Anode
Trend to install a tight HDPE membrane under the bottom to éloignée
prevent pollution: Ti (MMO) mesh introduced between them
Above-ground storage tanks (with
membrane)
Ruban conducteur titane

Câble cuivre gainé

Anode ruban
Well casings

 Non systematic for onshore wells

 mainly when identified corrosion risks
 or for long design lifetime (> 20 yr)
 specific criteria to use
 efficiency to be checked whenever possible from inside
using CPT (Casing Potential profile Tool)

 Always for offshore wells (through electrical contact

with the supporting platform or subsea template)
3 to 20 A (or more) necessary to protect a well

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Well casings

I=0 I = 10A I = 12A I = 14A

Modification of CPT log as a function of increase of CP current

applied to an onshore well
(anodic areas in red, cathodic areas in blue)
TPA Training Course

Managing Corrosion
in the Oil & Gas Industry

End of Part 4

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