According to the official reports, the permanent corrosion is to be considered as the main cause of almost 25% of all the natural-gas pipeline traumas and accidents; according to a recent reporting period, this feature is to be avoided when it comes to our modern times because transco has to develop some special measures in order to prevent these regular accidents from occurring. Thanks to the existence of the modern methods when it comes to protection against corrosion, one should consider the fact that the present number of different pipeline failures that are likely to be due to corrosion is likely to become relatively small. Cathodic protection, the well known method that is usually used in these cases in conjunction with special protective coatings, is to be considered as the primary method when it comes to the constant defense against the process of corrosion that is likely to attack even the major cross-country systems and pipelines.

Cathodic protection is likely to require the constant delivery when it comes to a steady electrical charge. One should consider the fact that when it comes to such a cathodic protection system, the transwestern pipeline is likely to be negatively charged thus acting as a true cathode. A positively charged feature, namely a sacrificial anode is likely to complete the entire circuit. In this system, the constant process of oxidation is likely to occur in the special anode while the existing cathode, namely the transco pipeline is likely to become quite protected from corrosion process. For the entire company, this cathodic protection is quite essential when it comes to the constant maintenance of almost 2,600 mi. of pipeline that is used in order to transport the existing natural gas to various markets that are to be found in Texas, New Mexico and California. This constant the threat when it comes to corrosion is to be regarded as something that is always waiting in order to be able to reduce the existing metal to its original matters.

One should also consider the fact that the company’s thermoelectric generators are likely to have provided good and constant service over the past years, but the actual pipeline system is likely to be 41 years old now. As the entire transco pipeline ages, more gas and energy are likely to be required in order to maintain the adequate cathodic protection. One should also be aware of the fact that these cathodic protection requirements are likely to become increasing ones. So, the thermoelectric generators are not likely to give the output that is needed nowadays. The company was actually faced with two different options: it can choose to add thermoelectric generators to the already existing ones in order to increase the existent power supply that is to be found at each location.

Or, the company may actually choose to replace all the worn-out units by trying to work with different types of generators. All the existing generators are likely to be wearing out in time; their repair is likely to cost even more than in the case of a total replacement. Therefore, the company staff should consider the permanent replacement of these old devices that are not likely to work for a longer period of time anymore. The transwestern pipeline is to secure its future because corrosion is a quite irreversible process that can attack more than it has already done. Even overhead power was actually considered but this type of solution is likely to ask for huge amounts of money; therefore, this process is too expensive for the transco to afford. Actually, some of its locations are likely to be quite remote ones that will probably need more costs. Cost-effective solutions and access are to be considered instead and over heading the power lines does not seem to be the proper solution that the entire company waits for.

Therefore, the company should consider all its options again; evaluation is likely to be needed in order to establish the level of this corrosion process that is likely to affect every gas pipeline in time. New power requirements are also to be taken into account in order to save money; monitoring devices should be installed in order to check the existence of possible problems that can actually occur along the way. The so-called minotaur units have started to be placed instead of the traditional thermoelectric generators and their operating costs are quite low; the actual consumption should also be metered in order to establish the real costs of the entire process because all the possible overall systems looses are to be monitored in order to keep track of the possible additional expenses.

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The well known transco company has managed to figure out a possible solution when it comes to the constant corrosion of its pipelines; therefore, Minotaur units have been put instead of the traditional units and the transwestern pipeline is trying to evaluate the new costs that are likely to appear in the following years.