EXTERNAL OIL AND GAS PIPELINE COATING SELECTION - Report Writing Assignment

Internal Code: MAS3453

Report Writing Assignment:

Pipeline plays an extremely important role as a means of transporting oil and gas over long distances. Unfortunately, oil and gas pipeline is a complex system that is affected by multiple factors such as mechanical stress, corrosion and environmental effects. The main contributor to external corrosion of a buried energy pipeline is the corrosivity of soils that vary over a wide range because of the variety of compositions, the availability of moisture and oxygen. Under the worst conditions, a buried pipeline or vessel may perforate in less than 1 year. U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 8000 corrosion leaks per year occurred in the country and 36% of these accidents were caused by external corrosion. Similar issues exist in the Australian oil and gas industry. Questions: 1) Comment, with reasonable justification, on potential future coating materials and corrosion prevention methods that could be used to improve the durability of oil and gas transmission pipelines, with a particular focus on external corrosion issues. 2) Take life-cycle cost, carbon footprint and environmental impacts issues into consideration based on a life cycle assessment of current and potential future materials.