Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion of Polyethylene Coated Pipelines Buried in the Anaerobic Soils

*, , , , , ,
R&D Center, Korea Gas Corporation S.Y. Li, Y.G. Kim, Y.B. Cho, H.S. Song, S.M. Lee, K.S. Jeon, Y.T. Kho

Corrosion Control of Pipelines in KOGAS

Protective PE (Polyethylene) Coating
1-layer : powder fusion 2-layer : reformed PE/PE 3-layer : FBE/reformed PE/PE

Heat-Shrinkable Sheet for Girth Weld ICCP

below -850mV (vs. sat. Cu/CuSO4 ref.)

Causes of Coating Damage

Self-defects of coating material Damages during construction Third-party damage Misapplication of heat-shrinkable sheet
self-defects improper procedure/preheating

Maintenance of Protection Systems

Pipe-to-Soil Potential
DCVG (Direct Current Voltage Gradient) method IP (Intelligent Pigging)

OBJECTIVES
Detection of Several pipe-wall loss points by IP survey
The excavation and investigation of wall-loss points was performed for the reliablility of IP survey. The evidance of MIC was found. The procedure and methods of an investigation of MIC mechanism is presented.

FIELD SURVEY
Sulfide/Carbonate Test
Add a few drop of HCl to corrosion products Rotten-egg smell Violent production of bubbles

pH

FeS x 2 xHCl xH 2 S Fe 2 2 xCl FeCO3 2 HCl CO2 H 2O Fe 2 2Cl

Soil corrosivity

CP Level

CP Level Test

LABORATORY ANALYSIS
Chemical Analysis
EDX - corrosion product
Ion Analysis - corrosion product & soil

Microbial Analysis
Enumeration of Anaerobic Microbes - corrosion products etc.

Microscopic Analysis
Optical Microscopy

phase contrast microscopy epifluorescent microscopy

SEM

FIELD SURVEY

3~4cm 8~10cm

After Removal of Corrosion Products

Characteristic Features of MIC

striation

pit terracing

pit clustered in group

Result of EDXA

Site 9

Counts (Arb. Unit)

Site 11

K S O Fe C
0

Fe

Site 13

Al Si
2

Ca
4

Mn
6

Fe
8

Energy (keV)

Chemical Analysis : Field & Lab.

Corrosion Product 6.7 300 200 O O

Method pH SO42(ppm) Cl- (ppm) Sulfide Carbonate pH meter pH paper turbidimetry titration acid test acid test

Soil A 7.1 1,430 110 X O

Soil B 7.0 690 60 X O

Microbial Analysis
Enumeration of anaerobic microbes strongly related to microbiologically influenced corrosion
SRB (Sulfate Reducing Bacteria)

Postgates medium B Desulfovibrio spp. & Desulfotomaculum spp. Obligately anaerobic bacteria

APB (Acid Producing Bacteria)

MICKIT III (BTI) mainly enteric bacteria facultative anaerobic bacteria

Ref.

D.H. Pope, State-of-the-Art Report on Monitoring, Prevention and Mitigation of MIC in the Natural Gas Industry, GRI Topical Report, GRI-92/0382

Postgates medium B
Constituents K2HPO4 NH4Cl CaSO4 MgSO47H2O Sodium lactate Yeast extract Sodium ascorbate Thioglycollic acid FeSO47H2O pH Buffer Salt Mineral/sulfate Mineral/sulfate Carbon source Carbon source Reducing agent Reducing agent Mineral/sulfate Indicator of growth Roles Concentration (g/l) 0.5 1 1 2 3.5 1 0.1 0.1 0.5 7.5

Indication of the Microbial Growth

Enumeration of Microbes
10 10
5 4 3 2 1 0

SRB

# of Microbes (cfu/g)

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

5 4 3 2 1 0

APB

Soil

Product1

Product2

REF1

REF2

Microscopic Observation

SRB x1000 epifluorescent microscopy

APB x1000 phase contrast microscopy

Microscopic Observation - Biomineralization

Pyrrhotite Fe1-xS, x : 0x 0.2

Vivianite Fe3(PO4)28H2O

JSM-5800, 15kV, x550

Field Test
the effectiveness of CP in the crevice btwn sheet/pipe

Objectives
To check the effectiveness of CP under the disbonded heat-

shrinkable sheet

Procedures
Excavation Insertion of Pt & reference electrode into the disbonded crevice Re-fill up the soil Measurement of potentials

Pipe-to-Soil potential Potential in crevice Redox potential

Field Test
the effectiveness of CP under the sheet

Pt & Reference

~15cm depth Ref1 Pipe Ref2 Pt

1. Ref 1 vs. Pipe

2. Ref 2 vs. Pipe

3. Ref 2 vs. Pt

Field Test
Results

Potential P/S In Crevice Pt Electrode Redox

*1. At pH 7

Potential mV vs. Cu/CuSO4 -1430 (-1200) -610 (-500) -480 -160 (vs. NHE)
*1

Redox Potential vs. Soil Corrosivity

Redox Potential (mV, vs. NHE) < 100 100 ~ 200 200 ~ 400 > 400 Corrosivity Severe Moderate Slight Non-corrosivt

J.D.A. Miller and A.K. Tiller, Microbial Aspects of Metallurgy, J.D.A. Miller, ed., Elsevier, NY (1970), p. 61

Major Characteristics of MIC

SRBs

hemispherical pits sulfides and metal oxide corrosion products pits clustered in groups 4 counts exceeds about 10 in core material preferential weld attack in some steels pit terracing

APBs

undercut pits striated pit interiors organic acid salt corrosion products 3 counts exceeds about 10 in core material preferential weld attack in some steels tiger striping pit tunneling

H.M. Herro, Corrosion/98, Paper No. 278, NACE (1998)

Proposed Mechanism of Corrosion by SRB

Fe Fe 2 2e
H 2 S ( aq ) H HS

HS H S 2 Fe 2 2e 2 H S 2 2 H FeS
Fe H 2 S FeS 2 H

Corrosive H2S, S2-, HS Galvanic coupling between Fe/FeS Unknown microbial effects

Conclusions
Detection of MIC under the disbonded sheet General procedure for the detection and the confirmation of anaerobic MIC chemical analysis microbial analysis microscopic analysis CP level survey The participation of SRB & APB in the corrosion process