PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE INTERNAL CORROSION DIRECT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR NATURAL GAS PIPELINES

摘要

The Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment (ICDA) process has been developed to determine if internal corrosion is likely or unlikely to exist in a given length of pipe. The procedure is applicable to natural gas pipeline systems which are considered to be dry and/or free of electrolyte under normal operating conditions. An accurate determination of the most probable point where internal corrosion might occur as a result of upset conditions combined with a calculation of the critical angle and a thorough assessment of that area for corrosion can be used to verify the likelihood of additional corrosion downstream of that site. It is essential to accumulate a true representation of the pipeline's operating conditions, both past and present, in order to accurately predict its corrosion tendencies. A case history is presented to demonstrate the benefits that can be realized by applying the ICDA process as opposed to more costly alternatives. If utilized properly, the ICDA process can be a significant addition to an existing pipeline integrity management plan.