The assessment of the external coating condition of underground pipelines relies mainly on the use of indirect inspection techniques such as alternating current voltage gradient (ACVG) and direct current voltage gradient (DCVG). Although these techniques have been in practical uses for decades now, their efficient application for the optimal detection and prioritization of coating anomalies depend largely on factors which have thus far been ignored. The resultant consequences have been severe, including wasted financial resources due to unnecessary pipe bell-hole excavation, and the possibility of future corrosion damages to the exposed pipe sections. In this paper, we address these important factors, and incorporate them into a general model for the optimal detection and prioritization of the coating anomalies using ACVG and DCVG techniques.

Subject
Electric current, Prioritization, Indirect inspection, Piping, Voltage, Probes, Pipelines, Tools, Coating surveys, AC voltage gradient, Anomalies, Coating defects, Soil
Keywords:
AC voltage gradient, DC voltage gradient, voltage gradient, coating anomaly, coating defect, probability of detection, probability of false indication
© 2011 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).
2011
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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