How To Protect Instrumentation From Offshore Corrosion?

A considerable expense goes behind the running of an offshore oil rig and the instruments that make production smooth. A huge part of this expense goes behind the protection of the infrastructure. When it comes to offshore production, offshore and marine corrosion is a real issue that requires an effective solution.

Corrosion protection is a must for marine infrastructure; otherwise, it could result in poor, unsafe working as well as production conditions. It will make the infrastructure fragile and the machines unreliable. Ultimately, repairs and replacement could drain a massive portion of the money that could have been used for something else.

What Are The Basic Causes Behind Offshore Instrumental Corrosion?

The corrosion that one observes in oil rigs and offshore instruments is caused due to the electrochemical process. Here, the seawater is the electrolyte, and the various components present inside the steel infrastructure react with it. The ions move towards the structure surface and fuse with the electrolyte solution. The reaction with the hydrogen ions alongside oxide causes the formation of corrosive agents.

With a greater concentration of oxygen on the surface of the water, the concentration of the electrochemical process is greater. The metal at the surface, therefore, undergoes corrosive overpotential than metal located at deeper levels. When it comes to corrosion on marine instruments, they are caused by:

● Presence of salt in the air.

● UV rays

● Saltwater

● The harsh climate and tides influencing wet or dry conditions

● Presence of carbon dioxide as well as levels of oxygen in the water.

● Pitting

How To Protect Offshore Instrument From Corrosion?

Metal Selection That Comes With Anti-Corrosive Properties

Choosing the suitable material plays a significant role in reducing your expense for anti-corrosion treatment in the long run. You can choose something like aluminum or stainless steel that creates a protective layer between the corrosive agent and the metal. With these, you do not require additional corrosion protection layering.

The Right Protective Coating To Treat Corrosion

You can effectively avoid corrosion in a low-cost way with the help of the application of a coat of paint or opt for powder coating. Paint coatings do not let the electrochemical charge reach the metal components.

Cathodic Protection Is The Most Accepted Way To Avoid Corrosion

This is the most common method where the steel is given a coating of zinc, a process popularly known as galvanization. When compared to steel, zinc is a better active metal and forms a layer to protect the metal. The term comes from steel becoming the cathode in this electrochemical process.

Cortec-me offers marine corrosion protection using solutions that are engineered by high-skilled engineers. Contact them to get help on any kind of industrial corrosion challenge you might be facing.