Corrosion at Pipe Supports

Causes & Prevention

www.StopRust.com

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 The Pipe Support Problem
• Corrosion at Pipe
Supports is a
leading cause of
external
corrosion
failures on above
ground piping
systems …..

Why ???

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 Poor Designs & Misconceptions
• Poor Designs

• Form Crevice

• Trap Water

• Hold Water

• Hard to Inspect

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Poor Designs & Misconceptions

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 Poor Design & Misconceptions
• Misconceptions

• Rubber Helps

• It’s critical to
eliminate metal to
metal contact

• It’s a “Galvanic
Thing”

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 What Really Goes Wrong?
1. Water Gets In

2. Water Stays In

3. Paint Fails

4. Pipe Pits Through

5. Pipe Leaks

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

What Goes Wrong?

Pipe
Atmospheric
Pipe Coating

Atmospheric CREVICE
Structural Coating

Support
Structure

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

What Goes Wrong?

Atmospheric
Pipe Coating Water
Entrapment
Atmospheric
Structural Coating

Atmospheric
Coating ….
Immersion
Service

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

What Goes Wrong?

Atmospheric
Bare Steel
Pipe Coating
Exposed to
Oxygenated
Atmospheric
Water
Structural Coating

Atmospheric
Coating ….
Softens -
Fails

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

What Goes Wrong?

Localized
Wall Loss &
Progressive
Undercutting
of Paint

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

This Results in Leaks

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Lots of Leaks

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

A Major Threat

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 But We Have Rubber Pads!
• They Eliminate
Metal to Metal
Contact

• Stop The Galvanic

Action

DON’T THEY …??

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

NO Afraid Not

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

THINK about it ….
• Forms Capillary Scaled
Crevice

• SUCKS & HOLDS

Water

• Stops Evaporation
– Sets Up Oxygen
Concentration Cells

– Rapid Crevice Corrosion

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 Poor Design & Misconceptions
• Those rubber
pads keep
appearing …

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Poor Design & Misconceptions

FRP Wear Pads

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 Bad Designs – Breaking the Basic Rules

1. Don’t Trap Water

2. Don’t Hold It
3. No rubber
4. Make it Inspectable

“Corrosion Resistant wear pads are the best way to protect your pipes from the
damaging effects of corrosion and rust caused by metal to metal contact. Specifically
formulated with a smooth exterior, our ultra smooth composite wear pads effectively
isolate un-insulated pipes from their supports and prevent corrosion.”
© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.
Bad Designs – Catastrophic Failure

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 Bad Designs – Catastrophic Failure
• Sleeve is 9-1/2 inches long
and provided extended
area of contact corrosion.
• Large corrosion area
explains large initial
“blowout” failure.

The loose sleeve was found

under the failure (resting on
top of the pipe support) the
morning after the fire.

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 Solution? • Identity & Eliminate the
Problems

– Tight Crevices

– Ability To Trap and Hold

Water

– Eliminate Dissimilar Metal

Contact (A secondary
benefit)
CREVICE

– Open things up for

inspection & maintenance
© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.
Solution?

– KEEP IT DRY

– ELIMINATE
CORROSION

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Excellent Wear Resistance

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Pipe Rack Beam Dressing

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Stabilized Supports

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Stabilized Supports

• Isolate the pipe

• Non-Porous

• Keep water out

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Cradles & Adjustable Supports

• Large crevice

• No chance for visual

inspection

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Cradles & Adjustable Supports

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

For Cradles & Adjustable Supports

• Isolate the pipe

• Allow for evaporation

• Open things up for

visual inspection

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Cradles & Adjustable Supports

• Large crevice
• No chance for visual inspection

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Pipe Hangers

• Retrofit or New

• Gripping Applications

• Thermal and electrical

insulation

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Pipe Grippers

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 Beware of Low Grade Material

• Delrin

• HMWPE
• Mystery Meat

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

Conclusions
• Keep it dry = Stop
corrosion

• Look for excellent wear

protection

• High compressive strength

• Open for visual inspection

© 2009 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.

 I-Rod® Pipe Support Systems

I-Rod Pipe Support Products

by Deepwater Corrosion Services
Comments?
Steve Young
syoung@stoprust.com
www.stoprust.com

© 2010 Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc.