Applus+ inspects the offshore transfer lines of a major hydrocarbon company in Colombia

37.6 km of underwater piping corresponding to three transfer lines, from platforms to the beach and between platforms, were inspected. The inspection was performed using the Trailing Wire technique using geospatial navigation equipment with submetric precision, high impedance potentiometers and Polatrak®-type silver chloride electrodes.

The execution of the offshore CIPS inspection revealed that the transfer lines did not meet the cathodic protection criteria due to the consumption of the anode material installed more than 40 years ago (galvanic anode protection systems). For this reason, a technical-economic evaluation was initiated for the repowering of the cathodic protection system that allows mitigating the risk associated with the threat of external corrosion and bringing it to economically acceptable terms.

Applus+ subsea inspection services assess the integrity of the assets examined, in this case, underwater pipelines through the use of ultra-high resolution images to detect and assess the levels of risk associated with this type of structure. It is important to highlight that some pipes and assets have to be inspected while they are in operation, for which Applus+ has different indirect inspection technologies, among which is the validation of data from intelligent automatic robots.

This offshore inspection provides ultra-high resolution images of the underlying material to detect corrosion, material loss and pitting.

Applus+ uses its experience, extensive technical knowledge and internal resources to carry out advanced inspections and conventional non-destructive tests; therefore, it has full capacity to manage the integrity of the plants. Applus+ constantly innovates, develops and refines asset integrity management solutions that help its clients maintain the safety, productivity and profitability of the chemical, oil and gas industries and conventional nuclear power plants as well.