Two types of corrosion cause the majority of problems in offshore or seawater applications. These are aqueous corrosion from the alkalinity of the seawater itself and degradation from microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). It is well recognized that an estimated 40% of all internal pipeline corrosion in the oil and gas industry can be attributed to MIC. In this type of corrosion microorganisms in the seawater cause corrosion and stress cracking in both metallic and non-metallic materials. When this degradation is combined with aqueous corrosion from the marine environment it is apparent that any significant advancement in MIC mitigation would prove invaluable to asset protection programs in these conditions.RMB Products’ rotational lining solution can apply a thick fully bonded vacuum resistant monolithic liner of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to the inner diameter of piping systems. This liner has proven to last over 20 years in brine water services providing long term corrosion protection to aqueous corrosion in salt water applications. To combat MIC corrosion RMB Products teamed with Advanced Nano Solutions (ANS) to add their proprietary anti-microbial powder to RMB’s high density polyethylene powder to provide a full corrosion solution to both types of corrosion in sea-water applications. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the biological and mechanical performance of material coatings doped with the anti-microbial additive. RMB Products and ANS tested rotationally lining with HDPE at increasing concentrations of the anti-microbial agent. Results from microbiological testing showed that coatings doped with the material resisted and deactivated over 99% of bacteria exposed to the surface while results from mechanical testing indicated that the additive has no significant impact on the adhesion or corrosion and abrasion resistance of the HDPE lining.RMB Products tested the ability of the material to meet their lining criteria. The first was that the material lines at uniform thickness without voids or porosity. This is tested with both a visual test and a spark test following NACE RP-02-74. RMB Products then tested the bond strength of the material’s mechanical bond with the metal substrate. RMB Products administered a peel test per ASTM D 3167. For all concentrations of anti-microbial powder the lining passed all required testing. RMB Products will be able to use this combination powder as part of their product offering. These results are significant because the additive material eliminates the primary source of MIC while maintaining the mechanical and thermal properties of the existing HDPE coating system. This technology provides transformative change in treatment and prevention methods for offshore and seawater applications.

Key words: microbiologically influenced corrosion, rotational lining, corrosion protection