Investigation reveals pitting corrosion and iron oxides in a methane gas pipeline, indicating critical prevention needs.
This study investigates the failure mechanism of a steel pipeline used for transporting methane gas. The investigation revealed extensive pitting corrosion on the pipe's external surface, leading to localized perforation. Analysis of the corrosion products identified iron oxide-hydroxides, primarily goethite and akaganeite, suggesting an oxidizing environment with the presence of chloride ions. Elemental distribution analysis further supported the formation of iron oxides, showing a lower Fe content and a higher oxygen concentration in the corrosion deposit compared to the base metal. The findings highlight the critical role of the three-phase boundary (steel-water-oxygen) in initiating pitting corrosion, emphasizing the importance of effective corrosion prevention and mitigation strategies for ensuring pipeline integrity and safety.
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Winarto et al. (2025) studied this question.
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