Dynamic Stray Current is Direct Current (DC) with
varying amplitude and/or geographical paths, which is
Correcting
CIPS for
Stray
and Telluric
Current
Interference
Peter Nicholson, Cathodic Technology
Ltd. Ontario Canada
Close interval potential surveys (CIPS) are the
backbone of pipeline integrity, When dynamic stray
or telluric currents influence CIPS data, it may be
difficult or impossible to validate the integrity of
cathodic protection. This article describes a
method of recording the effect of stray and telluric
currents and using this information to correct the
CIPS data
flowing in a path other than the intended path. DC
stray currents principally originate from DC traction
systems and are usually found in urban areas. With
increasing urbanization and the reliance on electrified
transportation systems, DC or low frequency AC stray
currents can affect pipelines many kilometers from the
source. The advent of regenerative braking as a
power saving device has had significant impact on the
ability of pipeline operators to safely mitigate DC stray
currents. Regenerative braking converts the DC
traction locomotive into a moving power source during
braking operations. In the past, the source was at a
fixed location and the load moved, but with
regenerative braking both the source and the load
move around the system making it difficult to design an
effective stray current mitigation system. DC stray
current can also be encountered in rural areas from the
operation of commuter rail systems or mine railways.
These traction systems generate stray currents, the
magnitude and direction of which depends on the
location of the load and the horsepower being
expended in relation to the source. See Figure No. 1.
FIGURE 1
- 3000
- 2500
DYNAMIC STRAY CURRENT
- 2000
POTENTIAL MILLIVOLTS
- 1500
- 1000
- 500
500
1000
1 1116 2231 3346 4461 5576 6691 7806 8921 10036 11151 12266 13381 14496 15611 16726 17841 18956 20071 21186 22301
UTC TIME
P/ S on P/ S of f Cr i t er i on
Low Frequency AC Interference
There are a number of transit systems operating that
use low frequency AC power systems. This low
frequency AC affects pipelines in a similar manner to
DC current and causes fluctuations in the pipe-to-soil
potential. Correction can be affected by utilizing the
same principals as for DC and Telluric current.
HVDC Transmission
Another source of DC stray current is high voltage DC
transmission systems (HVDC) that use the earth as a
return circuit. Mono-polar HVDC systems use the
earth as the return conductor and flow a relatively
steady DC current through the earth, although some
variation in the magnitude of the current flow through
the earth may occur due to loading. Bipolar DC
transmission systems use a metallic return circuit that
is isolated from the earth; however any imbalance in
the system will result in DC current flow through the
earth circuit. Bipolar HVDC systems may revert to have recently been observed on pipelines in the
mono-polar operation during maintenance or system equatorial zones.
upset conditions, resulting in use of the earth as return
conductors. HVDC current flowing in the earth circuit FIGURE 3
can seriously affect the pipe-to-soil potentials of
underground/underwater pipelines - See Figure No. 2.
Bipolar HVDC systems can fault thousands of amps
through the earth circuit for hours or even days when a
fault occurs on the system.
FIGURE 2
HVDC Fault Test @ 1200 Amps
Log of Pipe-to-Soil Potentials
-3.1

-3

-2.9

-2.8
Potential Volts

-2.7

-2.6

-2.5
Sunspot activity also interferes with radio transmission
-2.4
and affects the position accuracy of the GPS system.
-2.3
Figure No. 4 shows a picture of the sun taken May 15
of 2003, clearly showing a coronal hole and solar
-2.2
flares. It is these phenomena that result in increased
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145702

Eastern Standard Time Saturday November 4, 2006

solar wind, which also produces the Aurora Borealis
commonly seen in the polar latitudes.
DC Rail Transit FIGURE 4
With increasing population worldwide and urbanization,
there is increasing demand for electrified transportation
systems - see Figure No. 3. This, combined with the
demand for electricity and the efficiency of HVDC
transportation systems, is resulting in increased stray
current flow in the earth. Pipelines are subject to
increased risk of corrosion from stray current as the
demand for electrified transportation systems and
HVDC transmission increases to satisfy the demand of
urban dwellers for electricity and travel. Where DC
stray currents flow onto a pipeline (pickup), the
potential becomes more negative (cathodic). Damage
occurs where the DC stray current leaves the pipeline
to return to the source. It is reported in the literature
that “According to Faraday’s law” approximately 10
kilograms of steel can be dissolved by each ampere
year of current discharge.
Stray and Telluric Correction
Telluric Currents
Until quite recently correction of stray and telluric
Telluric current originates from disturbances in the current effects on pipe-to-soil potentials was difficult
earth’s magnetic field, which are predominantly due to if not impossible when many pipe-to-soil potential
sunspot activity. When a sunspot is facing towards the readings were affected. With the development of
earth it results in increased solar wind passing the real time recording of pipe-to-soil potential data, time
earth, causing earth’s magnetic field to wobble. When stamped with the UTC time obtained from the GPS
the earth’s magnetic field wobbles or shifts, the system, correction for stray and telluric currents has
magnetic flux induces current in conductors such as become much easier and more accurate. The UTC
wires and pipelines, resulting in telluric current flow. time received from the GPS system has a theoretical
The current induced on pipelines varies in magnitude accuracy of 365 nanoseconds, thus allowing
and pattern with time - see Figure No. 4. Until recently accurate time stamping of the pipe-to-soil potentials
it was assumed that telluric current was a phenomena on each recorded reading.
associated with pipelines in the higher latitudes, but it
has been reported to this author that telluric currents For correction of stray and telluric current effects it is
necessary to have UTC time-stamped rectifier on
and instant off pipe-to-soil potentials recorded at one dynamic stray currents from an electrified traction
or more locations in the survey area. By recording system. Figure No. 6 shows the same data after
the rectifier on and instant off potential of each correction using data from the stationary logger,
rectifier interruption using stationary loggers in the Figure No. 1. Correction was made by calculating
survey area, any change or fluctuation of the pipe- the deviation from the mean value for each rectifier
to-soil potentials will be recorded and time stamped. on and instant off potential recorded by the
A simple formula in a spreadsheet can then stationary logger and looking up this value for each
calculate the deviation from the mean value for each close interval survey potential recorded based on
time-stamped record. the UTC time. The rectifier on and instant off
deviation value is subtracted from the rectifier on
For correction of stray and telluric currents it is also and instant off potentials recorded during the close
necessary to time stamp each close interval pipe-to- interval survey at the same UTC time interval.
soil potential recorded by the CIPS surveyor with the
UTC time. Use of a simple formula with a lookup FIGURE 6
function in a spreadsheet can perform stray and
telluric correction. By comparing the value of each L3P0385-L3P0396/CIPS CORRECTED DATA
pipe-to-soil potential recorded with that of the - 2500

stationary record for the same time, the deviation of - 2300

the pipe-to-soil potential can be added or subtracted - 2100

- 1900
from the close interval pipe-to-soil potential recorded

（Potential MV）
- 1700

to affect correction of the survey data. - 1500

- 1300

For accurate correction of pipe-to-soil potential data - 1100

utilizing the deviation from the mean value derived - 900

from the stationary data loggers, both the close - 700

- 500

interval survey instrument and the stationary data 0 500 1000

chainage（M）
1500 2000

loggers must use the same electronic circuitry for cr i t er i on cor r on cor r of f

measurement of the rectifier on and instant off

potentials including any programmed delays. The Conclusions
GPS engine must be on at all times to provide the
precise timing signal from the GPS satellite system Since stray and telluric potentials can change
required for stray and telluric correction. Reliance rapidly, it is essential that the stationery logger and
must not be made on time derived from a crystal in close interval survey instrument record the rectifier
the close interval survey instrument, the stationary on and instant off potentials at exactly the same time
loggers or the GPS current interrupters. (within 1 millisecond). This can be accomplished by
utilizing the same measurement technology and
Formulae have been developed by the author to GPS engines in both the stationary logger and close
correct CIPS data for potential deviations due to interval survey instrument. Correction for stray or
stray, telluric ,HVDC and low frequency AC telluric potential excursions can be easily
interference. accomplished with accurate time based
measurements and a simple LOOKUP formula in a
For telluric and HVDC current correction, the author spreadsheet. Stray and telluric correction using the
has found that stationary data loggers should not be method described in this paper is a proven
spaced more than 5 kilometers apart, whereas for technique and used extensively worldwide.
stray current correction it may be necessary to have
the stationary loggers spaced not more than 2 Bibliography
kilometers apart.
1. Peter Nicholson “External Corrosion Direct
FIGURE 5 Assessment”, Corcon 2004 New Delhi India,
2. Peter Nicholson “Pipeline Integrity”, World
- 2500
L3P0385-L3P0396/CIPS ORIGINAL DATA
Pipelines March 2003
- 2300
3. Peter Nicholson “Stray and Telluric Correction
- 2100 of Close Interval Potential Survey Data”
- 1900
Eurocorr 2003 Budapest Hungary,
POTENTIAL（MV）

- 1700

- 1500
4. N.G. Thompson and K.M. Lawson, PRCI PR-
- 1300 186-807 Improved Pipe-to-Soil Potential Survey
- 1100
Methods, April, 1991.
- 900

- 700
5. R.L. Pawson: "Close Interval Potential Surveys -
- 500 Planning, Execution, Results", Materials
0 500 1000 1500 2000
CHAINAGE（M） Performance, February 1998, pp.16-21.
r ect on r ect of f cr i t er i on

Figure No. 5 shows the result of a close interval

pipe-to-soil potential survey of a pipeline affected by