Cathodic Protection Inspections

Subsea Pipelines
Cathodic Protection Inspections

Cescor S.r.l. - Via Maniago, 12 - 20134 Milano - www.cescor.it

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Subsea pipelines and integrity
About 180’000 kilometres of subsea pipelines,
mainly for oil and gas transportation, are installed
and operating all over the word, geographically
distributed as shown in the figure here below.
Most of subsea pipelines are laid in water ranging
between 15 m and 300 m depth.
Age varies depending on geographic area: the figure
for instance exemplifies the Italian case.
Corrosion represents the main threat for the
integrity of subsea pipelines, with risks of leakages
increasing with age of the structure.
Cathodic protection inspections
Seawater corrosion of subsea pipelines is controlled
by the combination of coatings and cathodic
protection (CP), mainly by galvanic anodes.
Periodical underwater CP inspections are necessary
to verify that correct protection levels are
established and maintained along the pipeline and
to check the coating integrity.
For subsea pipelines inspection CESCOR provides
qualified expertise and a complete range of
techniques, including:
Remote electrode potential profile
Current density profile
Trailing wire profile.
For each method, instrumentation with related
software is available to be assembled on ROV
(Remotely Operated Vehicle) or handled by divers.
Extent of cathodic protection inspection includes all
sections of a pipeline, from platform riser, to deep
and shallow water, to shore approaches up to the
on-land section of the subsea pipeline.
Underwater techniques
CP inspection of subsea pipelines faces specific
difficulties:
 Local inaccessibility for electrical contact
 Pipeline burial
 Water depths, ranging from very deep to
shallow to shore approaches.
CP inspection of subsea pipeline with CP probe on ROV
The protection conditions are normally verified by
direct potential measurements of the steel structure
with respect to a reference electrode in close
proximity. However, because of the presence of the
organic and concrete coating as well as because of
pipeline burial, direct potential measurements are
actually unfeasible.
The remote electrode potential profile
To overcome the inaccessibility for electrical
contact, the remote electrode survey technique is
used. Potential profile is obtained by taking:
  Local potential measurements with direct Finite elements modelling
contact at accessible locations, like anodes or
Finite Element Modelling (FEM) allows to represent
bare metal parts
the electrical field around the pipeline and for
 The potential difference between the reference correctly interpreting the inspection results,
electrode on ROV, moving close to the pipeline, particularly in presence of coating holidays. In case
and a remote reference electrode. of buried pipelines, the electrical field can be
The current density profile modelled considering burial depth and the sea
bottom resistivity, predicting the minimum
To check the coating status (presence of defects),
detectable defect size.
the current supplied from anodes and their residual
life, a current density profile along the pipeline is
performed by measuring the local ohmic drop
(electrical field gradient) between two reference
electrodes mounted on the CP probe, both
positioned close to the pipeline.

The trailing wire technique

Pipeline potential is measured using a trailing wire
directly connected to the structure at a contact
point. The reference electrode is mounted on ROV
or handled by a diver. It is usually applied for Simulation of coating defects on a pipeline protected by
bracelet anode
inspection at pipeline shore approaches or for short
subsea pipelines.

Instrumentation and software On-land techniques

Cescor developed different sets of instrumentation CESCOR provides integrated CP services for the on-
for Offshore CP inspections, suitable for every land portion of subsea pipelines, when present. The
environment: from very shallow waters, where following techniques are used (see figure):
Cescor uses the SCPMS (Shallow Waters Cathodic DCVG - Direct Current Voltage Gradient
Protection Monitoring System) rated for 200 m CIPS - Close Interval Potential Survey
water depth, up to very deep waters where the
TGM - Transverse Gradient Method
DCPMS (Deep Waters CPMS), rated for 2,000 m or
to localize coating defects and to measure the
more, is used. Main characteristics are:
protection level. Stray currents and DC/AC
 Highly resistant and low weight CP probe interference surveys complete the CP inspection
 High accuracy (0.1 mV) where required.
 High stability and robust reference electrodes
 Conductivity probe.
Cescor instrumentation is positioned in the
inspection area with ROV or divers, provided by
Marine Contractors according to Clients
requirements.

Expert reporting
Field activities are completed by data analysis and
interpretation performed at office under the
responsibility of CP experts certified as per UNI EN
15257 3rd level. Inspection reports typically include:
Measurements are managed and performed by  Protection conditions assessment certification
electronics and proprietary software developed by  Anode residual life
CESCOR and constantly improved.
 Recommendations for retrofit if needed.
 The remote electrode potential profile method
The figure illustrates the electrical field which establishes around a subsea pipeline
between bracelet galvanic anodes and steel exposed in correspondence of coating
defects: the current flowing from anode to defect prevents steel corrosion to occur
and this is verified by the cathode potential which shall be more negative than -
0.80 V referred to silver-silver chloride reference electrode.
The remote electrode potential profile survey is performed using a remote
reference electrode and a probe assembled on ROV and moving along the pipeline.
Direct potential readings are taken in correspondence of the anode, while along
the pipeline the potential profile is reconstructed using the difference between
close and remote reference electrodes.

remote vs. close remote vs. close remote vs. close

electrode: -25 mV electrode: +2 mV electrode: +10 mV

-1025 mV

pipeline potential, pipeline potential, pipeline potential,

measured: -1050 mV calculated: -1023 mV calculated: -1015 mV

-1030 mV
-1018 mV
current lines

-1035 mV
-1017 mV

-1040 mV -1016 mV

-1050 mV -1015 mV

pipeline
coating
anode defect

Principle of the remote electrode potential profile method

Festina lente is a classical motto and oxymoron meaning ‘make haste

slowly’ and illustrated by different pairings, especially the dolphin and
the anchor. Festina lente was adopted by Cescor to express its vision
for offshore integrity activities: firmly based on sound knowledge – the
anchor, but moving fast, like the dolphin, where the Client needs are.

cescor srl
via Maniago 12
September 2015

20134, Milano, Italy

tel. +39 022 641 2538
mail cescor@cescor.it
www.cescor.it