1.
Pipeline Corrosion Leaks:
The Importance of AC
Mitigation
Mears Integrity Solutions
Houston, Texas
(832) 634-2802

2.
When power lines meet
pipelines, corrosion can take place.
The placement of the pipes may
not mean anything to an average
person, but experts know that this
could put the quality of any
pipeline at risk. As such, it’s best
to know more about what it does
and when to seek the assistance of
professionals.
High-voltage AC Power Line Risks
When pipelines run within the vicinity of a
high-voltage AC power line, electrical
induction can occur. The pipeline will act as
the secondary winding of transformers if the
soil resistivity is low and the voltage driving
current along the AC is high.
Pipe lines suffer from corrosion holes when the
AC current finds a way to get off the pipes and
go back to its power grid. AC-induced
corrosions can put the pipelines and the
people working on them at risk.

3.
How to Identify AC Corrosion
An ideal way to identify AC corrosion is to check the areas where the pipeline and
induced AC are likely to connect, such as crossings of HVTL or parallelisms. Measure
the levels of induced AC within a certain period, like a minimum of seven days for 24
hours.
The results may differ depending on the demand electricity consumers put on the grid,
though. Households tend to use more electricity at night, especially when cooking and
watching television, so the electrical load and induced AC might also increase.

4.
The Importance of AC Mitigation
By hiring experts in AC mitigation, there is less worry about the design, installation, and
maintenance of the pipelines. They can help reduce the induced AC on the system,
making it safe. They install grounding techniques, like rods with decouplers for linear zinc
ribbon and DC isolation, to the pipeline.
From construction to engineering and field surveys, it’s best to have regular AC
mitigation to make sure that the pipelines are in good condition and will last longer.
Sources:
http://www.desfa.gr/files/dimosieyseis/2003kioupis.pdf
http://www.cathodic.co.uk/files/1257495366Pipeline%20Corrosion%20Risks%20Associat
ed%20With%20AC%20Voltages.pdf
http://www.mearsintegrity.com/pipeline/ac-mitigation/