HOW THE CORROSION OCCUR

Corrosion of most pipelines occurs due to an electrochemical reaction in the presence of an

electrolyte. The electrochemical nature of the process also facilitates the detection and mitigation
of this deterioration, which is accomplished by monitoring the voltages and the currents
associated with the corrosion rate.
The rate of corrosion of a piping system is generally related to external and internal factors.
External factors include a working environment of pipes, soil chemistry and moisture for buried
pipes or water chemistry in the case of submerged pipes.
Internal factors that contribute to corrosion may include:
The oxygen content or reactivity of liuids and gases carried
The use of dissimilar metals within the piping system
The temperature, flow rate and pressure of the fluids and gases
In the presence of moisture, an oxidation reaction takes place on the energi!ed area of the metal
surface to elute metal as an ion "anode#. $ reduction takes place on low energy area "cathode#.
%n the metal surface, oxidation on anode and reduction on cathode proceed in eual rates and
metal corrosion takes place. &ormally, corrosion of metal occurs on anode.
EFFECT THE CORROSION TO THE PIPELINES
The various corrosion types produce distinct corrosion patterns. 'owever, whether the corrosion
is a result of low level and pitting corrosion that effects large areas or it is a more aggressive
galvanic or microbiologically influenced corrosion "(IC#, the result is metal loss that could
compromise the integrity of the pipe. The corrosion patterns produced include uniform defects,
pitted surfaces, striations, and channel defects. )igures present examples of some corrosion
patterns observed on pipeline metal.
$n example of general deep
pitting corrosion with some pits
*oining to form larger pits and
interconnected pitting.
Image presenting the trend towards channel style corrosion.
The channels were initially small pits that *oined together and
continued to grow. This type of corrosion pattern can result in
defects with significant depth and length.

the pitting is mostly concentrated to the crack formed simultaneously on the pipe.
CATHODIC PROTECTIO
The pre!ention of corrosion is critical "hen dealing "ith the transportation of sour natural gas. Cathodic
protection has #ecome one of the most "idely used methods to pre!ent corrosion. This method "as
de!eloped #y applying #asic chemistry kno"ledge.
Assuming an iron pipe is used in the transportation of sour natural gas$ the anodic half reaction is seen #y %&'.
The presence of a(ueous hydrogen ions is a contri#uting factor to the corrosion of an iron pipe as it acts as the
o)idi*ing agent or cathode. The cathodic half reaction of the formation of elemental hydrogen is seen #y %+'.
Examples of corrosion striations. This style of
corrosion looks like scratch marks and reuires special
consideration when being inspected using ultrasonic
methods, since the striated corrosion surface profile
affects the reflected ultrasound signal.
+eneral corrosion patterns range from the
image on the left "with little or no good wall#
to the image on the right "with only minor
corrosion throughout the surface#.
Pitting corrosion in a
pipe
Half reactions %&' and %+' sum to gi!e a net potential is ,-.../ %,-.../,-' indicating that the t"o half reactions
"ill occur readily. Cathodic protection "orks to stop spontaneous corrosion #y supplying an electric current
%electron source' to the anodic site. Instead of the cathodic half reaction %+' taking electrons from the anodic
half reaction %&'$ the electrons "ill #e pro!ided #y this electrical current. This pre!ents the iron from losing its
electrons and #eing o)idi*ed$ "hich in turn pre!ents corrosion. This is often referred to as an electrolytic
process "hich is illustrated in 0igure &.
The po"er supply pro!ides the electrical current pro!iding
supplementary electrons$ "hich protects the metal.
0igure&