Pipeline Corrosion Leaks:

The Importance of AC

Mitigation

Mears Integrity Solutions

Houston, Texas

(832) 634-2802

When power lines meet

pipelines, corrosion can take place.

The placement of the pipes may

not mean anything to an average

person, but experts know that this

could put the quality of any

pipeline at risk. As such, it’s best

to know more about what it does

and when to seek the assistance of

professionals. High-voltage AC Power Line Risks

When pipelines run within the vicinity of a

high-voltage AC power line, electrical

induction can occur. The pipeline will act as

the secondary winding of transformers if the

soil resistivity is low and the voltage driving

current along the AC is high.

Pipe lines suffer from corrosion holes when the

AC current finds a way to get off the pipes and

go back to its power grid. AC-induced

corrosions can put the pipelines and the

people working on them at risk.

How to Identify AC Corrosion

An ideal way to identify AC corrosion is to check the areas where the pipeline and

induced AC are likely to connect, such as crossings of HVTL or parallelisms. Measure

the levels of induced AC within a certain period, like a minimum of seven days for 24

hours.

The results may differ depending on the demand electricity consumers put on the grid,

though. Households tend to use more electricity at night, especially when cooking and

watching television, so the electrical load and induced AC might also increase.

The Importance of AC Mitigation

By hiring experts in AC mitigation, there is less worry about the design, installation, and maintenance of the pipelines. They can help reduce the induced AC on the system, making it safe. They install grounding techniques, like rods with decouplers for linear zinc ribbon and DC isolation, to the pipeline.

From construction to engineering and field surveys, it’s best to have regular AC mitigation to make sure that the pipelines are in good condition and will last longer.

Sources:

http://www.desfa.gr/files/dimosieyseis/2003kioupis.pdf

http://www.cathodic.co.uk/files/1257495366Pipeline%20Corrosion%20Risks%20Associated%20With%20AC%20Voltages.pdf

http://www.mearsintegrity.com/pipeline/ac-mitigation/