Effects of magnetic fields on the corrosion behavior of transported hydrocarbon pipelines

An investigation is carried out on the effects of natural and induced magnetic fields on the corrosion behavior of buried steel pipelines. To obtain the experiment results, three different systems have been studied. In one case, an airplane coupled with a magnetometer has been used to monitor the variation of the terrestrial magnetic field along the right of way of the pipelines. The second case includes the studies of the magnetic field variations produced by electric power transmission lines which are close to pipeline right of ways. In the third system, a laboratory experimental arrangement has been developed. The system includes an acrylic box with sand as the electrolyte (Faraday box). A coated steel tube with length of 3 ft and 8 inch of diameter is buried in the sand box. The aerial magnetometer technique was able to monitor the magnetic field variations and able to find the regions of high magnetic influence along the right of way. The magnetic field induced by the electric power lines has been measured and insights on their influence on the pipelines have been obtained. Laboratory explorations of the effects of magnetic fields on the cathodic protected pipelines have also been obtained.