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BSI publishes corrosion test standards

Published by , Digital Assistant Editor
World Pipelines,


BSI has published the new standard for corrosion testing in pipelines used in the oil and gas industry. “BS 8701 Full ring ovalisation test for determining the susceptibility to cracking of line pipe steels in sour service — Test method” enables measurement of corrosion and environmentally assisted cracking of pipelines.

This standard updates the 1996 HSE Guidance document OTI 95 635*, which features the protocol for ensuring pipelines are properly tested to avoid environmental damage from pipeline failure and which is referenced in ISO15156, the flagship document for upstream material selection for sour service.

Different factors have to be taken into account when testing pipes: environments, age of pipeline, materials used, coatings etc. In addition to this, the types of corrosion must be accounted for too, such as sweet corrosion and sour corrosion. Both scenarios exist in pipelines.

Prior to testing materials and weldments for pipelines, basic parameters need to be established such as what was the pipeline designed for, what is the environment inside and/or outside, whether the internal environment is sweet or sour etc. In the case of testing the influence of the sour environment, previous guidance is not up to date. However, BS 8701 rectifies this and looks at the cracking problems that can occur in pipelines.

David Fatscher Head of Market Development for Sustainability & Energy at BSI, said: “Whenever an oil tanker spills its cargo we hear a great deal about the environmental impacts of such an incident, but less about one of the major causes of it. The condition of pipelines that transport oil and gas is crucial in preventing an environmental event. Ensuring pipelines are unaffected by corrosion from the marine environment, can help avoid these scenarios. Having a test method such as BS 8701 in place allows the correct tests for identifying the damaging levels of corrosive hydrogen sulphide gas, to be carried out. It can act as an early warning system that offers reassurance that everything is being done to safeguard the environment.”

Edited from press release by

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/19072016/oil-and-gas-pipeline-corrosion-tests-standard-is-published-333/

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