Failure of a copper nickel firewater pipe occurred due to external exposure to a seawater and sodium hypochlorite solution over an extended period. Sodium hypochlorite was injected into an offshore firewater system to enhance internal corrosion resistance and inhibit marine growth. A flange leak released the protected seawater solution onto the exterior surface on the firewater pipe. This exposure caused a chemical corrosion phenomenon to occur, which weaken the pipe. During an annual fire pump flow test for the subject platform, the firewater pipe ruptured due to the corrosion effects.

Subject
External surfaces, Pipe surfaces, Water, Materials, Piping, Piping systems, Corrosion rate, Leaks, Seawater, Sodium hypochlorite, Mechanical failure, Maritime, Copper nickel alloys
Keywords:
sodium hypochlorite, firewater pipe, copper nickel, offshore, seawater
© 1995 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1995
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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