Cathodic Protection
For Offshore Pipelines

An introduction

Pipelines all over the world are reaching the end of their original anodes' designed life. While we manufacture cathodic protection systems for all types of offshore pipelines, Deepwater specializes in anode retrofit for life extension of aging infrastructure pipelines. We have a proven track record over the last 15 years for dependable, affordable anode retrofit projects, protecting offshore pipelines for up to an additional 25 years over the original design.

For aging pipelines, damaged pipelines or pipelines in need of supplemental cathodic protection, our field-proven anode connection system (RetroClamp) offers fast installation, extending the life of the pipeline at minimal cost.

For new pipelines, we provide stock aluminum anode bracelets, made at one of our two certified ISO 9000 anode foundries. The foundry we draw from primarily is located in Houston, only minutes from Deepwater's main facility. Having access to our own raw materials for all of the aluminum anodes in our systems allows us to ensure the highest quality alloys on the market.

For most retrofit situations, we usually recommend the RetroSled system, due to its continued track record of success in the Gulf of Mexico. In certain instances, such as an unstable seabed conditions or at a pipeline crossing, we recommend the SmartMat, for its added stability.

At the same time that the new anodes are installed on the pipeline, we recommend also that our customers opt for a retrofit cathodic protection monitoring system. This helps to more easily verify continuity at installation and also to monitor system performance for the life of the new cathodic protection system.

Related Technical Information

Extending the Life of Offshore Pipeline Cathodic Protection (Paper)

This paper discusses the practicalities of installing replacement cathodic protection to ageing offshore pipelines using diver assisted and diver-less systems.

Improvements in Offshore Pipeline Cathodic Protection (Paper)

Newly developed survey methods combined with innovative design software and low cost, easy-to-install hardware are helping to redefine cathodic protection & life extensions for offshore pipelines.

External Corrosion Control & Inspection of Deep Water Pipelines (Paper)

Abstract: Pipe coatings with galvanic anode bracelets has worked equally as well in deep water as it has in shallow. There are however some very important differences in the way corrosion control ...

Corrosion Protection for High-Temperature Subsea Pipelines (Paper)

A subsea pipeline and associated components have been protected from corrosion with a combination of a high temperature pipeline fusion bonded epoxy coating, a thermal spray aluminum coating ...

Preventing Damage to Corrosion Protection During Pipe laying (Article)

New smaller diameter pipelines increase the risk that an anode can be snagged during pipe lay. If this happens, there is a risk that it will slide along the pipeline and damage the coating ...

Offshore Pipeline Surveys Must Cover All Facilities (Article)

With the Gulf of Mexico's pipe line infrastructure getting older, it makes sense to conduct a detailed, effective cathodic protection (CP) survey of the entire system before external corrosion can start taking place ...

The Deficiency in Data from Trailing-Wire / Tow-Fish Surveys (Paper)

For many years the offshore industry has relied on the trailing wire survey method to perform close interval surveys on offshore pipelines. Many operators have recognized the lack of quality data ...

Pipeline Cathodic Protection Products