Category Archives: Piping

Pipeline Internal Corrosion Prevention with VCI

MATCOR recently completed a significant pipeline preservation project at a newly constructed pipeline station in West Texas. The project involved injecting Zerust Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor into multiple above ground pipeline manifolds to prevent internal corrosion. The rest of the pipeline remains under construction.

Using vapor corrosion inhibitors (VCI) to protect internal pipeline surfaces is an established technology proven very effective for pipelines post hydrotest.

Preparing for VCI Installation for pipeline internal corrosion prevention

Typically, all pressure-containing piping requires hydrotesting once the piping fabrication is complete. This ensures that there are no faulty welds and that the piping system can handle the design pressure without any leakages.

This fitness for service testing, unfortunately, introduces water and possibly bacteria into the piping. After the hydrotest is completed, and the water is drained, there remains residual moisture (and potentially bacteria) that can prove very corrosive even with efforts to dry the internal surfaces.

For pipeline preservation applications, the VCI chemical is typically mixed with water into a slurry. Then, it is pumped into the piping manifolds using a series of injection pumps and injection ports through hoses from multiple mixing tanks.

How Does VCI Prevent Pipeline Internal Corrosion?

The VCI molecules diffuse and adsorb to the surface, forming a very thin (molecular level thin) protective layer that blocks water and oxygen from reacting with the internal metallic surface of the piping. The molecular level VCI barrier, when properly applied, can last for months and even years as the balance of the pipeline construction is completed.

For this project in West Texas, MATCOR prepared and installed over 24,000 gallons of VCI Solution inside the piping manifolds after their fabrication and testing. Because of the above ground nature of the project, we added methanol (anti-freeze) to the VCI slurry mixture to provide freeze protection for the winter months.

In addition to pipeline preservation projects, VCI is a great product for tanks and pipeline casings.


To get in touch with our team of cathodic protection experts for more information, to ask a question or get a quote, please click below. We will respond by phone or email within 24 hours. For immediate assistance, please call +1-215-348-2974.

Contact a Corrosion Expert

Pipeline Cathodic Protection Design for New Transmission Stations

Technological advances in horizontal drilling and fracking have changed the oil and gas production landscape that propels the US Pipeline industry. This combined with an increasing demand for natural gas and the promise of larger export markets for both LNG and US crude oil have led to a surge in new pipeline construction. As a result, pipeline corrosion prevention, including cathodic protection design and engineering expertise is critical as the industry adapts to a changing production landscape and new distribution challenges.

Cathodic Protection Engineering Capabilities

MATCOR has been heavily involved in several key engineering projects including pipeline cathodic protection design for new transmission stations. Whether these are compressor stations for gas pipelines or pump stations for liquids pipelines, pipeline owners appreciate MATCOR’s innovative application of linear anodes when designing new construction stations.

Pipeline Cathodic Protection Design with Linear Anodes

The advantages of using linear anodes in a new pipeline station environment include:

  • pipeline cathodic protection design for new transmission stationInstallation in the same trench as the buried piping during initial construction greatly reduces installation costs
  • Close coupling of the anode to the piping greatly minimizes the current losses of the CP system to the station’s grounding system
  • Utilizes a low anode gradient / low current output anode system that minimizes interference concerns with other structures and with foreign pipelines outside the station area
  • Provides exceptionally long anode life using MMO (mixed metal oxide) anodes operating at mA/ft current output.

MATCOR has successfully pioneered the use of linear anodes in plant environments for two decades. With the recent surge of pipeline projects, the use of linear anodes in stations has gained significant traction in the market. MATCOR design engineers and field technical personnel are uniquely qualified to perform engineering, pipeline cathodic protection design, field installation support, commissioning and testing services for these critical infrastructure projects.

MATCOR also offers a full suite of cathodic protection design and AC mitigation design services for transmission pipeline and oil and gas production pipeline gathering systems.


Have questions or need a quote for engineering and design or materials for your pipeline cathodic protection system? Contact us at the link below.

CONTACT A CORROSION EXPERT

Cathodic Protection for Missile Defense Shield in Romania

As you watch the evening news or pick up your daily paper you will very likely read about the new Missile Defense Shield in Romania that came on line this week. The Russian response has been loud and indignant. This story will be all over the evening news, cable channels and newspapers.

But did you know that the Deveselu facility in Romania has a MATCOR Cathodic Protection system protecting the buried piping and process tanks? MATCOR VP of engineering Glenn Shreffler made three trips to the site during its construction. So when you watch the evening news and they discuss the “controversial” missile defense base in Romania, we are proud that MATCOR anode systems are hard at work protecting the assets that protect our NATO allies.

Contact MATCOR about your tank and piping cathodic corrosion prevention requirements or learn more about our wide range of cathodic protection products.

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