Cathodic protection is one method of corrosion control. Unprotected metal will rust when placed in continuous contact with an electrolyte – for example, when a pipeline gets buried underground. One way to prevent that pipeline from rusting involves connecting additional pieces of metal to the pipeline that will essentially rust in its place, thereby protecting the pipeline from corrosion. The pieces of metal are called “anodes.” Cathodic protection (CP) systems are made up of anodes connected installed to a metal asset using a wire, and they’re sometimes energized by an external power source to increase their effectiveness.
The work of a CP professional is to design, install, and maintain these systems for a metallic onto a metal asset, typically a piece of critical infrastructure like a well casing, pipeline or storage tank. Projects can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. More rarely, a multi-phase CP project might last a few months. Typical installations occur in rural areas along a pipeline right-of-way (ROW) or in an industrial environment like a tank farm. Most projects will require you to be away from home for the duration of the project, staying in a hotel near the job site.
CP installation professionals operate equipment like backhoes, excavators, auger drills, and more. You’ll start your day early with a site safety SAFETY walk-through to identify any potentially dangerous conditions, and then you’ll work in a crew of 4-6 people (depending on the scope of work) to install anodes in a configuration provided by a project engineer or designer. The bulk of the work involves burying the anodes and connecting the wires to the asset. Many CP installation professionals will be required to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) license to drive the heavier pieces of equipment to/from for transporting materials to the jobsite. Certifications like the AMPP CP1 or CP2 typically result in higher compensation, and many companies will pay for you to obtain these certifications. Most companies provide per diem stipends for each day spent traveling, along with transportation expenses.
This profession can be dangerous and requires strict attention to safety SAFETY standards and best practices. Working alongside a “live” pipeline or inside industrial complexes presents dangers not found in other work environments.industries. Because of this, your employer will require extensive safety SAFETY training and certifications called “operator qualifications” (OQs). OQs are a way of certifying to the customer that you are knowledgeable about certain tasks and are qualified to perform them.
But don’t worry – most people learn everything they need to know after starting their first job! Additionally, because most critical infrastructure is regulated by the federal government, these positions are subjected to rigorous drug testing policies and background checks. If you enjoy being outdoors, working in tight-knit teams, and making the world a better place by protecting our critical infrastructure, this might be the job for you! It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
Pipeline integrity is the practice of ensuring pipelines are free of defects and protected from corrosion. A pipeline integrity technician is trained in gathering taking data readings at certain locations along the pipeline (or other asset); this data is fed back to an engineering team to consolidate and evaluate the integrity of the pipeline. Ultimately, a report is prepared for the asset owner to help them understand the corrosion “health-status” of their asset how protected their pipeline is.
A technician must understand the principles of corrosion control and cathodic protection and must be equipped to identify any emergency conditions that might be encountered while working in the field along the line. When a technician gathers information, it’s called a “survey.” There are several types of pipeline surveys, including CIS (close interval survey), ECDA (external corrosion direct assessment), and annual surveys, sometimes referred to as pipe-to-soil (P/S) surveys.
Some technicians work in a centralized region, conducting annual surveys on different assets on a daily or weekly cadence basis. These technicians typically work alone or in pairs and conduct surveys that take a few days or less, moving on to their next location quickly. Other technicians travel extensively, performing CIS or “long line” surveys down the length of a pipeline, sometimes hundreds of miles. These technicians log a lot of windshield miles and hit their step count every day while working in a crew of between 3 to 5 people. Most of this work is completed in very rural areas on a pipeline right-of-way (ROW).
As technicians advance in their careers and develop their skillsets, they may consider becoming certified through AMPP (the Association of Materials Protection & Performance). Certification – including CP1 and CP2 – provides a deeper understanding of the math and science behind cathodic protection and is a marketable skill for end users, usually resulting in higher compensation for the technician.
