Economics of Mitigation of External Corrosion On Underground Pipe Lines

The economics of the mitigation of external corrosion on underground pipe lines has been an important problem to the pipeline industry for many years. In the United States there are approximately 333,000 miles of pipe line transporting crude oil, refined products, and natural gas, built at an estimated cost of $3,200,000,000, which provide this nation with an underground transportation system that is a marvel to the rest of the world. The first crude oil pipe line was laid in 1865, the first gas line in 1876, and the first products line in 1930. Thirty years ago there were less than 60,000 miles of these pipe lines. Today there are approximately 133,000 miles of pipe lines carrying crude oil and refined products and approximately 200,000 miles of natural gas lines. On this system of underground pipe lines serving virtually every city and industrial center in the country, it is estimated there...