A probe for measuring a cathodic protection condition of a buried steel structure includes: a steel electrode; a reference electrode; and a coupon fabricated of a conductive material. The steel electrode, the reference electrode and the conductive coupon are positioned in an ionically conductive medium in proximity with each other and are isolated from direct electrical contact with each other.

A flexible pipe for subsea transportation of production fluids, a method of manufacturing flexible pipe body and a method of providing corrosion protection to armour wires of at least one tensile armour layer of a flexible pipe having a breached pipe annulus are disclosed. The flexible pipe comprises a fluid retaining layer, an outer sheath and at least one tensile armour layer comprising a plurality of helically wound monofilament armour wires of a first material, each having a non-circular cross section with an aspect ratio of greater than 1:2 disposed between the fluid retaining layer and the outer sheath. The tensile armour layer further comprises at least one helically wound elongate anode element substantially having a cross-section aspect ratio of 1:1 and comprising a further material, interposed between armour wires, the anode element cross section having an area that is 50% or less of a corresponding area of said non-circular cross section.

A method to reduce the total anode mass of a cathodic protection system by reducing or eliminating the total cathode area is disclosed, the system comprising: a metallic first-layer coating which being anodic to the component or substrate to be protected, bonded to the component or substrate and electrically conductive. A sacrificial anode in the form of a metallic second-layer coating is distributed over the first-layer coating. The second layer coating has an open circuit potential that is equal to the first-layer coating or being anodic to the first-layer coating and to the substrate, the second-layer coating electrically conductive, bonded to the first-layer coating and exposed to the surrounding environment.

A corrosion resistance tester for a coated metal material including a surface treatment film on a metal substrate includes: a container placed on the surface treatment film, and having a bottom surface in contact with the surface treatment film, the container including a plurality of water-containing electrolyte material holders that open through the bottom surface; the water-containing electrolyte material contained in each of the water-containing electrolyte material holders of the container, and being in contact with an associated one of a plurality of separate measurement target portions of the surface treatment film; a plurality of electrodes being each in contact with the water-containing electrolyte material contained in an associated one of the water-containing electrolyte material holders; an external circuit connecting the electrodes together; and a conduction means configured to conduct electricity to the metal substrate through the electrodes and the external circuit.

A sensor system is installed adjacent to the buried or submerged metallic pipelines using a plurality of sensors and transceivers. The sensor system monitors the pipeline for external corrosion control and recommends maintenance and repair at specific locations in the pipeline where external corrosion has occurred. The sensor system automatically receives periodic or continuous measurements through the plurality of sensors. The various sensors at various locations adjacent to the pipelines detect irregularities in the received sensor data at specific locations of the pipeline. The sensor data are stored in the system database and can analyzed to be used for monitoring and for transmitting repair alerts. The sensor system according to the present disclosure provides a reliable and an accurate assessment of the external corrosions of the pipelines. The sensor system further obviates the need of personnel walking along the pipelines to detect corrosion.

An electric field gradient sensor is presented, having a sensor body having an outer surface; and a plurality of electrodes distributed over the outer surface, each electrode having an electrode surface facing outward from the surface. The plurality of electrodes are arranged forming a plurality of electrode pairs, each electrode pair formed by a first electrode and a second electrode located on opposite sides of the sensor body. This sensor enables three-dimensional measurements of the electric field gradient along structures located in an electrically conductive medium, such as subsea structures, for example for monitoring the cathodic protection of such structure.

Zinc ribbon anodes and methods of making the same are provided herein. In some embodiments, the zinc ribbon anode includes a hollow elongated zinc ribbon having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow space extending from the first end to the second end; and an elongated metal core disposed within the hollow space and in contact with the inner surface, wherein a cross-section of the hollow elongated zinc ribbon taken between the first end and the second end and perpendicular to the outer surface is polygonal in shape, and wherein the cross-section has an aspect ratio of at least 1.5:1.

A corrosion protection system is provided. The corrosion protection system comprises an electrical contact coupled to an apparatus. The electrical contact can apply a negative potential to the apparatus. The corrosion protection system comprises a sensor. The sensor detects moisture with respect to the apparatus. The corrosion protection system comprises a power supply. The power supply is electrically coupled to the electrical contact and provides a negative potential to the electrical contact in accordance with commands of a processor. The processor utilizes the power supply attached to the apparatus via the electrical contact to provide and apply the negative potential to the apparatus based on a sensor signal from the sensor. The sensor signal indicates the detection of the moisture by the sensor.

A pH sensor device, intended to be inserted into the ground in order to be in contact with a region containing a fluid from the ground, for which fluid the pH is desired to be known, comprising: a pH sensor comprising a surface covered in a polymer material configured to be in contact with the region containing a fluid when the device is inserted into the ground, a metal element having a surface configured to be in contact with the region containing the fluid when the device is inserted into the ground, electrical connection means connected at least to the metal element and configured to receive a cathodic-protection electrical potential for the metal element.

The invention also relates to a method for measuring pH that can be used for cathodic protection.

A system and method for direct and/or active detection and monitoring of civil engineering or other infrastructural structures, and in a preferred embodiment, for hydrocarbon leakage in oil and gas pipelines, storage structures, and/or transportation structures. Particularly, the system and method relate to various nanocomposite sensor coating and data gathering systems. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a single measurement sensor coating (thin film) sensor. Other embodiments relate to multiple measurement sensor coating systems. The sensor is comprised of either a discrete conductive filament layer, or a single or multiple mesh of interwoven filaments of conductive material in one direction and nonconductive material in a perpendicular direction, as a substrate coated with sensitive coating materials to form a sensor grid. Various embodiments of the sensor coating and their applications are also disclosed.