Corporations spend millions of dollars annually performing close interval potential surveys (CIS) on
pipeline systems. Without research or knowledge of all influencing impressed current cathodic
protection sources prior to conducting the surveys, much of the data collected may be inaccurate,
incomplete and invalid.
This paper does not introduce new concepts in influence testing, but instead introduces new survey
techniques that improve our ability as corrosion control professionals to evaluate influence from
impressed current cathodic protection sources when planning surveys.
The information collected during the influence study is used to develop an optimal interruption plan
prior to conducting a CIS. These tools improve data quality, speed up the survey process and reduce
costs. In addition, data obtained from these studies provides many benefits which are useful for data
interpretation during routine annual surveys.