Membrane-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Detecting Internal Corrosion Risk of Natural Gas Pipelines

Abstract

Internal corrosion monitoring programs are essential for the safe management of natural gas transmission pipelines. Electrochemical technologies can provide reliable, real-time monitoring of key risk factors, such as solution conductivity, corrosion rates, and localized corrosion risk. A novel, membrane-based sensor is being developed to perform electrochemical tests in both aqueous and gaseous environments, allowing for continuous operation and data collection within a pipeline environment. This sensor can be used to determine water content in the presence of a number of gases (CH4, H2S, CO2), to monitor the pipeline’s corrosion rate with and without a condensed phase, and to provide localized corrosion data in the presence of a pitting agent. Here, we explore the sensor’s design, validation through finite-element analysis, and performance data for general and localized forms of corrosion