Experience and Economic Benefits From Cathodic Protection on Gas Distribution Systems^★

This paper pertains to the practical cathodic protection experience and the economic benefits received from cathodic protection by two companies. One is a Mid-South combination gas and electric utility, the other a Southern gas distribution company. Throughout the paper, these companies will be referred to as the combination company and the gas company. Collectively, the companies serve natural gas to 236 cities and towns through approximately 5200 miles of 3-inch equivalent steel mains (in addition to cast iron mains), with over 382,000 customers. The majority of the gas distribution systems lies in areas where corrosive soils are the rule rather than the exception. Corrosion of mains and services long has been a serious problem—leading to early investigation of the possible advantages of cathodic protection. Initial investigations were made as early as 1935 but first permanent installations were engineered and installed in 1941. Since 1941, cathodic protection has been installed progressively...