Lake Maracaibo, an oil rich basin located in northwestern Venezuela, is a particularly interesting location from a corrosion control standpoint due to its unique environmental conditions. The selection of effective corrosion control systems for steel structures is studied based on a comprehensive analysis of this dynamic environment. The effect of factors such as water salinity, a fairly uniform oxygen content at low depths, water composition, presence of marine life, high mean lake water temperatures, and a high density of metallic structures on the physical integrity of steel structures is analyzed. Suggestions for the selection of appropriate cathodic protection systems and coatings are presented based on this analysis.

Subject
Steel structures, Marine environments, Water, Galvanic anodes, Cathodic protection, Zinc anodes, Magnesium anodes, Pipelines, Metallic structures, Anode surfaces, Maritime, Aluminum anodes, Corrosion protection
Keywords:
Lake Maracaibo, cathodic protection, protective coatings, underwater corrosion
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2000
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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