Investigation of Reasons for Accelerated

Thinning Action of High Pressure Gas

Pipeline

PRESENTATION 02

MME 442 – FAILURE OF MATERIALS & ARTEFACT STUDY

MUDASSERUL ISLAM

1811036
 Accelerated Thinning Action of High Pressure Gas Pipeline
 An increased rate of deterioration of the pipeline walls
 common causes: Corrosion, Erosion, Abrasion, Hydrogen Embrittlement etc.

External Pitting Corrosion, Stress-Corrosion Cracking (SCC)

Corrosion
and Microbial Corrosion
Corrosion
Internal The presence of CO2, H2S, SO2, organic acids, salts and
Corrosion
moisture in the fluid
 Internal corrosion of the pipelines is considered as the most alarming

 Erosion - Gradual process of wearing away or breaking down of materials

 Visual Inspection

No External Corrosion Internal Corrosion

 The weld line did not suffer from selective corrosion

 Thicker deposition of corrosion products at the bottommost areas of the pipeline
 Corrosion products are possibly worn out by the action of the pressurized gas flow
 Chemical Analysis

EDX Analysis

 Atomic proportions of
carbon, silicon and
oxygen in the corrosion
product are significantly
higher than that of the
base metal

EDX of Base Metal EDX of Corrosion

Product
 Conclusion
1) Silicon particles have been charged inside the gas pipeline in the form of silica particles
2) Chloride or Sulfide ions are not responsible for the internal corrosion attack
3) CO2 gas in the presence of moisture and high operating gas pressure corroded the gas pipeline
4) Corrosion products that were relatively light in weight were continuously going out with the gas
5) Corrosion product is FeCO3
6) It is proved from the investigation that the process of material loss is erosion-corrosion

Fe CO2 H2O FeCO3

 References
[1] E.. Philip Dahlberg and T. V. Bruno, “Analysis of Gas Pipeline Failure,” Element Houston, 222
Cavalcade Street, Houston, Texas 77009.
http://www.element.com/information/resources/articles-index/technical-article-analysis-of-gas-pipelinefailure

[2] N. Sridhar, D.S. Dunn, A.M. Anderko, M.M. Lencka and H.U. Schutt, “Effects of Water and Gas
Compositions on the Internal Corrosion of Gas Pipelines— Modeling and Experimental Studies,”
Corrosion 2001, Volume 57, No. 3, pp 221-235.