Study on the interference between parallel pipelines and optimized operation for the cathodic protection systems

In recent years, the demand for oil and gas pipelines has increased rapidly. Due to the restrictions of the pipeline routing, pipelines are generally laid in parallel or in the same trench, which results in stray-current interference between the independent cathodic protection (CP) systems. The purpose of this paper is to study the interference between the long-distance parallel pipelines and to obtain the optimized operation for the CP systems.

In this study, first, the numerical model of parallel pipelines was established using the boundary element analysis software (BEASY). Second, the effects of horizontal distance between parallel pipelines, coating damage rate, soil conductivity and anode output current on the interference of parallel pipelines were studied. Finally, by varying the layout or the output currents of CP stations, an optimized operation scheme osf long-distance parallel pipelines was put forward.

Simulation results showed that with a decrease in soil conductivity or coating damage rate, the interference increased. Moreover, the interference decreased with an increase in horizontal distance between two parallel pipelines or a decrease in anode output current. It was found that there are three methods to reduce the interference between long-distance parallel pipelines: to reduce the output currents of CP stations, combined protection and to close part of the CP stations. Among them, to close part of CP stations was the optimized scheme because of the lowest operating and maintenance cost.

The optimized operation scheme proposed in this study can not only solve the interference between parallel pipelines but also provide guidance for the parallel pipelines to be built in the future. Reasonably arranging the cathodic protection stations using numerical simulation can avoid the interference in the cathodic protection systems, and reduce the construction cost.