DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE PREDICTION OF COATING DEFECT AREA IN OIL AND GAS PIPELINES

Abstract

The study was to investigate the corrosion characteristics of pipelines in different oil and gas installations at NNPC, Shell Petroleum Company and Chevron Petroleum Company. Parameters affecting pipeline degradation and coating defect area were measured and these include: diameter of the pipeline, applied current, coating thickness, leakage resistance, potential gradient, soil resistivity and depth of burial of pipelines. A data-driven non-linear regression model was developed between coating defect area(s) as a dependent variable and coating thickness (tc), leakage resistance (Cr) burial depth as independent variables. A similar model was developed between potential gradient (E) and coating defect area (S), coating thickness and burial depth. , Based on the derived equations, a computer program (CODEAP) was developed using a q-basic programming language to simulate coating :defect area in pipeline installations of the selected oil companies The models were used to predict the coating defect area of various pipelines as well as the relationship between: coating thickness (tc) and coating defect area (S), coating thickness (tc) and potential gradient (E), coating defect area (S) and potential gradient (E) and leakage resistance (Cr) and potential gradient (E) at various burial depth and applied voltages using validating data. Those relationships were further presented graphically.