Common methods for the corrosion detection of oil and gas pipelines

1. C scanning technology
C-Scanning is such kind of technology to judge underground pipeline anti-corrosive coating
insulation condition and seek for the damaged point with the current attenuation principle.
With five vertical antenna array, the method not only improves the detection accuracy, make it
more convenient to ensure the pipe position, and has the ability to automatically identify
interference signals and prompt it. Compared with other methods, higher precision, lower
operation cost and lower technology dependence to operators.
2. Multiple frequency tube current method (PCM)
Multiple frequency tube current method is a new technology to test the leakage condition of
buried pipeline coating, based on gradient in the tube current test method of advanced
anti-corrosion layer detection method, the basic principle is applied in the line an approximation
of dc current signal (4Hz), every distance along the pipeline with the receiver to measure the size
of the pipeline current at a time, when the coating is bad or defects in current will accelerate the
attenuation, through the analysis of the attenuation of the pipeline current changes can determine
the defects and the leakage situation of anti-corrosive coating, and the coating can be evaluated.
3. PEARSON (PS) test
Basic priciple of PEARSON method detection: when add the ac signal on metal pipe, the coating
damaged point will have current leakage into the soil, so the pipeline damage bare spots and will
form the voltage difference between soil, and near the parts of the damaged point on the voltage
difference is the largest, with instruments detected in buried pipeline on the ground of the potential
anomalies, can be found damaged point on the pipeline corrosion protection, on the basis of the
principle of the instrument have production at home and abroad, the most representative is Jiangsu
Haian radio instrument factory production of the SL series leak detector to detect underground
pipeline anti-corrosion layer, it USES "body capacitance method" to pick up the signal, is a
commonly used testing instruments, is one of the instruments of long-distance pipeline (including
seamless steel pipe and welded steel pipe) operation units standing.
4. DC voltage gradient method (DCVG)
In the top of the cathodic protection of pipeline, by measuring the potential gradient and soil on
the ground in the direction of current to determine the location of the defect, and the flaw in CIPS
method to evaluate the class level.
Measurement method is on the cathode of cathodic protection station through an interrupt, the CP
current at a certain time period to carry on the on/off, on/off time synchronization by GPS
technical correction, to ensure synchronization with receiver.
The receiver also with a GPS synchronization system, an electrode probe measurement in the
pipeline, another a measuring probe in the pipeline, the probe about 1 meter apart, along the
pipeline to each every 1 meter measuring a set of data, according to the measurement result can be
accurate defect position and level.
5. Close interval potential method detection (CIPS)

CIPS method 1-1.5 m along the pipeline to interval data, plot of continuous on/off pipe-to-soil
potential, reflecting the pipeline across the cathodic protection potential, when somewhere
anticorrosive coating defects, current density, the protection potential on positive deviation, when
this offset reaches a certain amount, the surface can be detected, when the VOFF below - 850 mv
(copper/copper sulfate reference electrode), pipe corrosion occurs.
6. Pipe-to-soil potential test (nature, protection potential):
Multimeter (or millivoltmeter) and the reference electrode, using pipe test pile or the dew point of
applying cathodic protection of pipeline protection potential (test) or not applied cathodic
protection pipe (SP) of potential were determined, in order to draw the potential value of pipeline
to ground (including seamless steel pipe and welded steel pipe), thus the protection of the applied
cathodic protection pipe (unprotected or over protected) or determining the cathodic protection of
pipeline corrosion tendency not imposed (corrosion or free of corrosion).