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Magazine March, 2010

NEW DISTRIBUTION INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (DIMP)

REQUIREMENTS FOR GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES

On December 4, 2009, the Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration amended the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act to require operators of gas distribution pipelines to develop and implement Integrity Management (IM) programs. The stated purpose of these programs is to enhance safety by identifying and reducing pipeline integrity risks. The final rule took effect February 2, 2010. Gas distribution operators must develop and implement an Integrity Management program that includes a written Integrity Management plan as specified in 49 CFR Part 192 Paragraph 192.1007 no later than August 2, 2011. The purpose of the IM program for distribution pipelines is to enhance safety by identifying and reducing pipeline integrity risk. The rule uses a simple risk-based approach to pipeline integrity; however, obtaining all the pertinent data for development of the program may prove to be very difficult for many operators. With the development of commercially available model plans, creation of a written Distribution Integrity Management plan should not be complicated, while remaining economically feasible. Southern Cathodic Protection is ready to assist in obtaining the data for populating these model plans. Call us today. Together, we can make a difference in pipeline safety.

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iccp facts

Facts About Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP)

The cathodic protection current of an Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system is obtained from an external source such as the local utility company which can impose a current sufficient to counteract the existing currents of the corrosion cell. The current is "impressed" on the corroding structure through the use of relatively inert anode materials.

Typical Components

Typically an impressed current cathodic protection system for a concrete structure will contain the following components.

DC Power source
Inert anode material
Wiring and conduit
Monitoring devices

The local utility is the most common source of external power for the system. This is of course AC current and must therefore be converted to DC current for use in the CP system. Rectifiers are available in a variety of sizes and types to satisfy the needs of all corrosion prevention situations.

The Anode

Anode material in an ICCP system is a relatively inert material such as catalyzed titanium. By using relatively inert materials, anode consumption is minimized.

The anode is one of the most critical components of the system because it distributes protective current to the reinforcing steel. It is also the location of all anodic reactions in the system and will therefore eventually be consumed. It is desirable to use anode material with a long life expectancy which can be accurately predicted. Catalyzed titanium is such a material.

Selection of catalyzed titanium as the anode material will yield a life expectancy of more than 40 years for existing structures and more than 100 years for new structures.

Maintenance

After installation minimal maintenance is required to insure proper functioning of an ICCP system. This involves visual inspection and periodic monitoring of the voltage and current as well as insuring proper supply of DC current to the anode. During installation of the system it is common practice to imbed silver/silver chloride reference electrodes to facilitate routine monitoring.