This paper reports the steps of a cathodic protection upgrade of a three year old deep water platform (the Cognac structure, Mississippi Canyon 194A) installed in 1977/78. These steps include obtaining results from an ROV survey, using the survey data to calculate added currents needed to upgrade cathodic protection of the platform, achieving retrofit anode installation using then novel methods, and following-up with CP surveys showing the success of the upgrade. We calculated that 3,100 amperes of additional current applied at depths from 250’ to 1,050’ feet (76 m to 320 m) would be needed to achieve fill cathodic protection of the well conductors and jacket of Cognac. Approximately 1100 additional
aluminum anodes were installed during the early 1980’s, using two novel installation methods. Installed cost was estimated at $5.4MM. Potentials since the time of the upgrade have been very satisfactory.
Key Words - Cathodic protection upgrade, Cognac platform, Retrofit, Anode carrying members, Cathodic protection under-design, Gulf of Mexico