The failure of a pipeline used to transport wet CO2 containing gas has highlighted the limitations that both intelligent surveys and ultrasonic testing (UT) inspection can have for the detection of internal grooving type corrosion. These limitations are presented, together with the inspection, testing and assessment programme that was subsequently introduced to evaluate the condition of other associated production facilities
operating under similar conditions. Measures adopted to prevent the reoccurrence of such CO2 induced corrosion damage are discussed. In addition, the use of a corrosion rate prediction tool enabled the risk ranking of the facilities under threat of C02 induced corrosion to be rapidly undertaken and therefore enable an inspection and assessment priority ranking to be made. A comparison is therefore made of the predicted levels of corrosion with those actually observed in practice.
Keywords: carbon dioxide, grooving, hydrotest, corrosion rate prediction, wet gas