(51e) Corrosion At Pipe Supports: Causes and Solutions

Localized corrosion attack at pipe support areas is a major problem for integrity managers. Offshore, marine and coastal operators, without exception, spend the largest part of their corrosion budgets on paint maintenance due to the damage caused by this type of attack. The inherent design flaws common with pipe supports will be discussed with a special emphasis on those design concepts which are responsible for the most failures. Common misconceptions about the prevalent corrosion mechanisms will be corrected and the actual root causes of failure will be analyzed. Importantly the corrective actions being taken and applied in some facilities will be presented.

This paper will address those basic failure mechanisms and offer solutions for both new construction and retrofitted applications to ensure that your paint system lasts longer and in turn, lowers your maintenance costs. The solutions shown in these case histories for both onshore and offshore projects have all proven themselves within the Coastal and Offshore Oil & Gas industries for more than two decades.