Midstream Oil Production & Processing

Midstream describes the process as oil and natural gas travels from wellhead to refinery. This includes pipelines, transfer stations, pumping stations, above ground storage tanks and below ground storage tanks. These assets all have long expected life and corrosion control is a significant design factor requiring all anode types for different environments. A new and formerly overlooked corrosion concern in midstream is corrosion occurring in shared-right-away with high voltage AC powerlines. These powerlines often have negative and somewhat unpredictable localized corrosion sites that must be accounted for. See our white paper on shared-right-away, but also know that BADGERCORD Zinc Ribbon is the top solution for AC mitigation due to its galvanic and current distributing properties.

Downstream Oil Production & Processing

Downstream refers to the distribution and use of usable products such as gasoline, fuel, diesel and the many other hydrocarbon products. This phase is typically highlighted by complex piping networks and different processing equipment on-site at refineries. Key concerns here are stray current from the processes themselves as well as interference from multiple Cathodic Protection systems. Protecting this infrastructure takes a deep knowledge of how the systems have been built up as well as where existing corrosion prevention tools have been implemented.

Upstream Oil Production & Processing

In most cases, exploration and drilling is a temporary installation on the landscape and in only the harshest of environments does the topic of corrosion prevention come up. Once a well is placed however, the service life of the extraction equipment is often overlooked. Many wells are in environments for sufficient durations to benefit from Cathodic Protection – frankly an oversight in the corrosion industry. In our opinion, more wells should be protected from corrosion. The simplest way is adding strategic BADGERCONNECT Magnesium Anodes during installation. More forward thinking companies with long term service plans for a well system often employ an impressed current system utilizing a wide range of anode types including BADGERCOMP Graphite Anodes, BADGERCAST HSCI Anodes, or BADGERCOAT Mixed Metal Oxide Anodes. Water separating tanks used to increase the purity of the oil before transport also use BADGERCOAST Aluminum Anodes for what is commonly known as redhead and bluehead anodes.

OIL PRODUCTION & PROCESSING

Protection From Drilling to Storage

From extraction to processing, steel structures are employed in the form of well systems, distribution pipelines, storage tanks, refineries, and distribution. Every aspect of this process can benefit from BADGER Cathodic Protection Anode. Balancing the cost benefit of adding a Cathodic Protection system to the structure is a critical step. Soil types, local environmental factors as well as expected service life are some of the major factors to consider when considering adding a Cathodic Protection System to protect your assets.