The corrosion damage mechanisms of the gas pipelines in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Abstract

The article provides examples and analysis of critical damage to a long-term gas pipeline in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) resulting from the development of corrosion processes. This is the accident in August 2006 at the gas pipeline branch to the city of Pokrovsk and the accident in December 2018 at the «Taas-Tumus-Yakutsk» gas pipeline. The mechanisms and scenarios of the development of corrosion damage in the permafrost zone are discussed. The studied gas pipeline was put into operation in 1967 and is still in operation. The construction and operation of the gas pipeline in the permafrost zone was of both industrial and experimental nature. Wherein, over 50 years of operation, damage and accidents caused by corrosion processes have occurred extremely rarely. But, taking into account the duration of the development of corrosion processes in the permafrost zone, an increase in the number of damages to the long-running main gas pipeline due to corrosion wear is expected in the near future. The stage of diffuse damage during long-term operation is confirmed by an increase in loss of efficiency due to corrosion damage over the last 25 years of operation of the main gas pipeline.