Inspection and mitigation for pitting corrosion on stainless steel process piping to prevent process safety event and loss production opportunity in Medco E&P

Stainless steel piping has excellent corrosion resistant properties, both internal or external piping surface. In humid circumstances, sea vapor containing chlorine will be trapped on the pipe surface, especially pipes below deck with minimum sun exposure (more humid). Chlorine on the external pipe surface will damage the passive layer of stainless steel pipe. Damage speed is faster than recovery of passive layer stainless steel. This condition lead to a lot of localized pitting corrosion spread. The corrosion was detected visually and carried out with dye penetrant inspection to assure pitting condition. Actual dimension of pitting (depth, diameter) cannot be measured due to limitation of the NDE technique. This pitting corrosion can result hydrocarbon leakage as a process safety event that contributes loss of production opportunity. Without modification circumstances, this condition can be stopped immediately by application of a viscos elastic coating to prevent pitting corrosion propagation. Application of viscos elastic coating is simpler and faster when compared to conventional coating. Viscos elastic coating will protect stainless steel piping surface against oxygen and chloride in humid circumstances so that stainless steel can recover passive layer and stop pitting corrosion.