Field Guide for Investigating Internal Corrosion of Pipelines

Table of Contents......Page 4
List of Figures......Page 9
List of Tables......Page 10
Foreword......Page 12
Acknowledgments......Page 14
About the Author......Page 16
1.1 Corrosion Detectives......Page 17
1.2 Purpose of This Guide......Page 19
1.3 How to Use This Guide......Page 20
2.2 What Should the Plan Include?......Page 23
2.3 Complying with Regulations......Page 25
2.4 Training is Essential......Page 27
2.5 Plan Development Checklist......Page 28
3.1 A New Perspective......Page 29
3.2 Visual Evidence......Page 30
3.2.1 Location of Corrosion......Page 31
3.2.2 Type of Corrosion Attack......Page 35
3.2.4 Severity......Page 38
3.3 Physical Evidence......Page 42
3.4 Circumstantial Evidence......Page 47
4.1.1 Who Will Do What?......Page 53
4.1.2 Equipment, Supplies, and Procedures......Page 54
4.1.3 Practical Safety Issues......Page 55
4.2.1 When You Arrive on the Scene......Page 58
4.2.3 Operating Conditions......Page 65
4.2.4 Methods of Documentation......Page 67
4.2.5 Nondestructive Inspection......Page 68
4.2.6 Data Collection Checklist......Page 69
4.4.1 Gas Sampling......Page 70
4.4.2 Liquid Sampling......Page 71
4.4.3 Solid / Sludge Sampling......Page 72
4.4.4 Pipe Samples......Page 74
4.4.5 Chain of Custody......Page 75
4.4.6 Sample Collection Checklist......Page 76
4.5.1.1 Overview of Methods......Page 77
4.5.1.2 Testing for the Presence of Water......Page 78
4.5.1.4 Measuring pH......Page 79
4.5.2 Chemical Testing of Solid/Sludge Samples......Page 81
4.5.2.2 Sulfides and Carbonates......Page 82
4.5.3 Microbial Testing......Page 83
4.5.3.1 Inoculation Procedure......Page 85
4.5.3.2 Interpreting Media Results......Page 86
4.5.3.3 Fixing Samples for Microscopic Examination......Page 87
4.4.5 Gas Analysis Tests......Page 88
4.5.5 On-Site Testing Checklist......Page 89
4.6.1 Embedment of Corrosion Sites......Page 91
4.6.1.2 Preparation before Field Investigation......Page 92
4.6.1.3 Embedment Procedure......Page 93
5.1 Do I Need a Laboratory Analysis?......Page 97
5.2.1 Is it an inside Job?......Page 98
5.2.2 Supplying Adequate Information......Page 100
5.3.1 Chemical Analysis of Bulk Samples......Page 102
5.3.2.1 X-ray Diffraction (XRD)......Page 104
5.3.2.3 Atomic Absorption......Page 105
5.3.2.5 Wet Chemistry......Page 106
5.3.2.8 Miscellaneous Tests......Page 107
5.3.3 Chemical Analysis of Surfaces and Thin Films......Page 108
5.3.4.1 Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy......Page 109
5.3.4.2 Transmission Electron Microscopy......Page 111
5.3.4.4 Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy......Page 112
5.3.5 Microbiological Analysis......Page 113
5.3.5.1 Optical Microscopy Techniques......Page 114
5.3.5.2 Organic Acid Analysis......Page 116
5.3.5.4 Other Techniques......Page 117
5.3.6 Metallurgical Analysis......Page 118
5.3.7 Corrosion Testing......Page 121
5.3.8 Other Techniques......Page 123
6. Reviewing the Results......Page 125
6.1.1 First, Get Organized......Page 126
6.1.2 20 Questions to Answer......Page 128
6.1.3 Making Connections......Page 130
6.1.4 Telling a Story......Page 133
6.2 Putting it in Writing......Page 149
6.3.1 Case Study #1: Natural Gas Storage Field Well Line......Page 151
6.3.2 Summary of Findings - Case Study #1: Natural Gas Storage Field Well Line......Page 156
6.3.3 Case Study #2: Liquid Hydrocarbon Line......Page 157
6.3.4 Summary of Findings - Case Study #2: Liquid Hydrocarbon Line......Page 162
6.3.5 Case Study #3: Gas Transmission Line Header......Page 163
6.3.6 Summary of Findings, Case Study #3: Gas Transmission Line Header......Page 169
7.1 Steps in the Process......Page 173
7.1.1 Looking for Trouble, Finding it, and Fixing it......Page 174
7.1.2 Identifying a Corrosion Problem......Page 175
7.2 Mitigating Corrosion......Page 177
7.3 The Key to Being a Good Detective......Page 181
Color Section......Page 185
References......Page 195
Bibliography......Page 197
B......Page 198
C......Page 199
E......Page 201
F......Page 202
H......Page 203
I......Page 204
L......Page 205
O......Page 206
P......Page 207
R......Page 208
S......Page 209
W......Page 210
X......Page 211