Close Interval Potential Survey-CIPS

Analysis of the external corrosion of buried pipelines is made using pipe-to-soil potential measurements. Pipe-to-soil potentials are usually measured at fixed test points spaced between 1-5 km along a pipeline. However, since such measurements are only valid at the location of the reference electrodes, there is a lack of reliable information about the CP status elsewhere along the pipeline.

Considerable deviation in soil resistivity, interference and other factors can cause corrosion at intermediate locations even though the test points indicate favorable data. If the distance between the test points is decreased, the survey will provide more accurate data about CP conditions along the pipeline. Therefore we have developed the Close Interval Potential Survey (CIPS), an intensive survey which allows potential measurements to be taken at intervals of 5 meters or less.

Reasons to use closed interval potential survey – CIPS

It is obvious that a manual survey of pipe-to-soil potentials at such close intervals can be neither practical nor economic, especially if a long-distance transmission pipeline is to be inspected. Even if strip chart recorders are available, such a survey would be extremely time consuming. Thus, a faster and more reliable method is a better alternative.

CIPS overcomes such problems by automatically recording, storing, calculating, and displaying measurement data. This can be presented in a table or graphic.
The MoData2 Multifunction Instrument is used for field recording and display of pipe-to-soil potentials and voltage drops in a cathodic protection system. These are also stored in the MoData2`s internal memory.

2-electrode method
3-electrode method
Addition method
IFO method