Previous Page  69 / 160 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 69 / 160 Next Page
Page Background

JOINED-UP

THINKING

March

2017

67

HYDROCARBON

ENGINEERING

T

he battle against corrosion is an ever

present aspect of the offshore oil industry,

where structures, pipework and equipment

are often exposed to seawater and humid,

salty air. Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is a major

and well understood threat, and the industry is

researching new technology to help identify issues

earlier and more reliably.

However, the problem is by no means limited to

offshore projects. Corrosion is also a threat to

downstream refineries and distribution facilities,

especially when assets begin to age. In fact, there is

much that refinery operators could learn from their

offshore counterparts when it comes to strategies

and technology for managing CUI.

The challenge of insulated pipework

and plant

CUI mainly affects steel components, which

corrode when they are in contact with water and

air. The insulation of plant and pipework presents a

particular issue, as it can create a space where

water can collect and sit for extended periods of

time against the metal surface. In the case of

Damage as a result of hidden corrosion is a major issue for the oil and gas industry.

Archie Crawford, Bilfinger Salamis, UK,

looks at recent advances to tackle the

issue on offshore assets and asks whether there is something to learn for those

who maintain downstream facilities.