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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.