Pipeline Current Mapper (PCM) Surveys

Pipeline Current Mapper (PCM) Surveys

A Pipeline Current Mapper (PCM) survey applies an AC current to a pipeline to qualitatively rank coating quality and pinpoint locations with the most significant coating holidays, based on the magnitude of current attenuation. MATCOR technicians conduct PCM surveys in the field on oil, gas, and water pipelines, with data analyzed by NACE-certified experts.

Measuring Pipeline Coating Quality with a PCM (Pipeline Current Mapper)

A Pipeline Current Mapper or PCM is a device used to perform an AC current attenuation survey to qualitatively rank coating quality and highlight pipeline locations with the most significant coating holidays (defects). An AC current is applied to the pipeline and coating damage is located and prioritized according to the magnitude of current attenuation.

AC current attenuation surveys can be performed with impressed current cathodic protection systems energized. When sacrificial anodes (also known as galvanic anodes) are connected to the pipeline either directly or through a test station, it is recommended that they be disconnected when feasible when performing pipeline coating quality testing to prevent signal loss and enhance current flow down the pipeline.

Qualified MATCOR technical personnel can conduct PCM AC current attenuation surveys to determine pipeline coating quality in the field for oil, gas and water pipelines. Data is then analyzed by NACE certified experts.

With MATCOR, you benefit from:

  • 50 years of experience with all types of cathodic protection systems
  • Experience testing, installing and maintaining cathodic protection systems for all types of structures throughout the world
  • Highly qualified professional and NACE corrosion engineers and technicians
  • Team members with experience on the client side of CP projects
  • Experience managing multi-million dollar CP projects and corrosion departments of large utilities and pipeline companies
  • MATCOR’s many proprietary cathodic protection systems that are lower in cost and have longer lives than some commonly used CP systems

MATCOR’s mission is to solve your corrosion problems. We are ready to assist with your corrosion engineering and field service needs, including design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance, as well as project management and full turnkey solutions. In addition, we offer a broad range of proprietary corrosion prevention products.

To get in touch with our team of corrosion 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.

Pipeline Current Mapper (PCM) Surveys Key Benefits

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Why MATCOR Services?

MATCOR combines engineering expertise, proprietary products, and specialized installation capabilities to deliver corrosion protection solutions from design through commissioning and beyond.

One Partner, The Right Solution

Engineering, materials, installation, and more from the most techically capable team in the industry.

Leading Installation Capacity

Specialized equipment and dedicated construction crews ready to mobilize.

Engineering-Driven Approach

We don’t simply execute specs—we solve complex corrosion problems. 

50+ YEAR Quality & Safety RECORD

ISO 9001:2015 certified and backed by BrandSafway’s global resources.

Your AC mitigation and CP systems are only as good as the teams that design, install, and manage them. From engineering review through commissioning and annual surveys, here’s how MATCOR gets it right in the field.

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 Related Products

Durammo® is MATCOR’s factory-assembled, ready-to-install deep anode system for cathodic protection of pipelines, wells, and buried infrastructure. Nearly 10,000 systems have logged over 200 million hours, featuring MMO anodes, patented Kynex® connections, and Kynar® cables.
The MITIGATOR® is the industry’s only engineered AC mitigation system to combat the corrosive effects of alternating current (AC) on pipelines, combining performance with greater ease of installation and lower cost. Providing superior performance over bare copper and zinc for AC grounding and mitigation, this system is based on MATCOR’s SPL™-Anode manufacturing technology. It is a packaged grounding system that combines the best of copper grounding with low resistance, corrosion-inhibiting backfill.
Where AC corrosion is a threat, monitoring must shift from polarization measurements to current density measurements—and that requires coupon test stations. MATCOR supplies AC/DC coupon test stations with dedicated AC and DC current density coupons, ensuring localized conditions don’t create AC corrosion risk that standard test stations can’t detect.
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