Detecting internal corrosion of natural gas transmission pipelines: field tests of probes and systems for real-time corrosion measurement

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2005

OSTI ID:895373

Covino, Jr, Bernard S; Bullard, Sophie J; Cramer, Stephen D; Holcomb, Gordon R; Ziomek-Moroz, M; Kane, R D ^[1]; Meidinger, B ^[2]

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1. InterCorr International
2. Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center

A field study was conducted to evaluate the use of automated, multi-technique electrochemical corrosion-rate monitoring devices and probes for detecting corrosion in environments similar to those found in natural gas transmission pipelines. It involved measurement of real-time corrosion signals from operating pipelines. Results and interpretation were reported from four different field test locations. Standard flush-mount and custom flange probes were used in four different environments at a gas-gathering site and one environment but two different probe orientations at a natural gas site. These sites were selected to represent normal and upset conditions common in gas transmission pipelines. The environments consisted of two different levels of humidified natural gas, liquid hydrocarbon, and water from natural gas. Probe locations included the 6 and 12 o?clock positions of a natural gas pipeline carrying 2-phase gas/liquid flow. The probe data was monitored using completely remote solar powered systems that provided real-time data transmission via wireless back to a pipeline control station. Data are also presented comparing the ECR probe data to that for coupons used to determine corrosion rate and to detect the presence of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC).

• Research Organization: Albany Research Center (ARC), Albany, OR; National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, and Morgantown, WV
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE - Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
• OSTI ID: 895373
• Report Number(s): DOE/ARC-2005-022
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CORROSION
DATA TRANSMISSION
FIELD TESTS
FLANGES
MONITORING
NATURAL GAS
PIPELINES
PROBES
WATER
corrosion
dehydration
electrochemical
electrochemical corrosion rate
gas transmission
internal corrosion
microbiologically influenced corrosion
monitoring
pipeline
probes