Effectiveness of ultraviolet light for mitigating risk of microbiologically influenced corrosion in steel pipeline

Abstract

Pipelines play an extremely important role in the transportation of gases and liquids over long distance throughout the world. Internal corrosion due to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is one of the major integrity problems in oil and gas industry and is responsible for most of the internal corrosion in transportation pipelines. The presence of microorganisms such as sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in pipeline system has raised deep concern within the oil and gas industry. Biocide treatment and cathodic protection are commonly used to control MIC. However, the solution is too expensive and may create environmental problems by being too corrosive. Recently, Ultraviolet (UV) as one of the benign techniques to enhance mitigation of MIC risk in pipeline system has gained interest among researchers. An amount of 100 ml of modified Baar’s medium and 5 ml of Desulfovibrio vulgaris (strain 7577) seeds was grown in 125 ml anaerobic vials with carbon steel grade API 5L-X70 coupons at the optimum temperature of 37°C and pH 9.5 for fifteen days. This was then followed by exposing the medium to UV for one hour. Results from present study showed that UV radiation has the ability to disinfect bacteria, hence minimizing the risk of metal loss due to corrosion in steel pipeline.