A Novel Reliability-Based Approach for Assessing Pipeline Cathodic Protection (CP) Systems in External Corrosion Management

Overview

Fast Facts
Project No.	1021
Contract No.	693JK32350002CAAP
Research Award Recipient	Marquette University 1250 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53233 Milwaukee, WI 53233
AOR/TTI	Zhongquan Zhou
Researcher Contact Info	Dr. Qindan Huang, Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil, Constr. & Env. Engr 414-288-6670 qindan.huang@marquette.edu Co-PI: Dr. Qixin Zhou, Associate Professor, The University of Akron, Dept. of Chem., Biomolecular, & Corrosion Engr., 213F 264 Wolf Ledges Pkwy, Akron, OH 44325 Phone: 330-972-7159; Email: qzhou@uakron.edu

Technology and Commercialization
Technology Demonstrated	TBD
Commercialized (in whole/part)	TBD
Commercial Partner	Empty Value
Net Improvement	Empty Value

Financial and Status Data
Project Status	Active
Start Fiscal Year	2023 (09/30/2023)
End Fiscal Year	2026 (09/29/2026)
PHMSA $$ Budgeted	$735,723.00

Main Objective

The main objective is to evaluate cathodic protection (CP) effectiveness using a novel reliability-based approach.

Public Abstract

The goal of this research project is to evaluate the cathodic protection (CP) effectiveness using a novel reliability-based approach, where different types of valuable pipeline integrity information (i.e., CP and other survey data and ILI data) are uniquely integrated to probabilistically model corrosion growth, assess probability of failure, and develop reliability-based CP and corrosion management.

Anticipated Results: The proposed project is expected to result in an innovative approach that leverages extensive survey and inspection data with probabilistic modeling and reliability analysis to evaluate cathodic protection (CP) performance. Probabilistic corrosion growth models will be developed, explicitly incorporating explanatory variables such as CP current density, soil properties, coating types, and seasonal effects. The project will also delve deeper into understanding stray current corrosion for the pipelines under CP protection and assess the probability of pipeline failure, considering the prevailing uncertainties in survey and inspection data and modeling error through reliability analysis. Additionally, the impact of various explanatory variables on CP effectiveness and pipeline integrity will be evaluated. Finally, reliability-based tools will be developed for decision-making under uncertainty regarding CP augmentation and monitoring strategies, utilizing life-cycle analysis and value of information concepts.

Potential Impact on Safety: The results will provide PHMSA and the pipeline industry reliability-based solutions for assessing CP effectiveness from the prospectives of probability of failure, risk, life-cycle cost, and value of information, thereby providing tools for CP and corrosion management that are essential for pipeline integrity.