Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion of a Pipeline in a Petrochemical Plant

• Published in: Metals (Basel ) 2019-04, Vol.9 (4), p.459
• Main Authors: Kiani Khouzani, Mahdi, Bahrami, Abbas, Hosseini-Abari, Afrouzossadat, Khandouzi, Meysam, Taheri, Peyman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: amine pipeline; Bacteria; Bacterial corrosion; Biofilms; Buried pipes; Carbon steel; Cathodic corrosion; Cathodic protection; Chemical industry; Corrosion mechanisms; Corrosion products; Design specifications; failure; Failure analysis; Microbial corrosion; microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC); Microorganisms; Microscopy; Microstructural analysis; Monitoring; Pipes; Sulfate reduction; sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB); Visual observation
• ISSN: 2075-4701; 2075-4701
• DOI: 10.3390/met9040459

This paper investigates a severe microbiologically influenced failure in the elbows of a buried amine pipeline in a petrochemical plant. Pipelines can experience different corrosion mechanisms, including microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). MIC, a form of biodeterioration initiated by microorganisms, can have a devastating impact on the reliability and lifetime of buried installations. This paper provides a systematic investigation of a severe MIC-related failure in a buried amine pipeline and includes a detailed microstructural analysis, corrosion products/biofilm analyses, and monitoring of the presence of causative microorganisms. Conclusions were drawn based on experimental data, obtained from visual observations, optical/electron microscopy, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)/X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses. Additionally, monitoring the presence of causative microorganisms, especially sulfate-reducing bacteria which play the main role in corrosion, was performed. The results confirmed that the failure, in this case, is attributable to sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), which is a long-known key group of microorganisms when it comes to microbial corrosion.