External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA)

Improving Safety by Reducing the Impact of External Corrosion on Pipelines

External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) is a structured process that improves safety by assessing and reducing the impact of external corrosion on pipeline integrity. External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) is a structured process that improves safety by assessing and reducing the impact of external corrosion on pipeline integrity. ECDAs proactively prevent corrosion defects from growing to a size that would ultimately impact a pipeline’s structural integrity by:

  • Identifying and addressing corrosion activity
  • Repairing corrosion defects
  • Remediating the causes of corrosion

ECDA is a continuous improvement process. Through regular assessments, pipeline operators can identify and address locations where corrosion has occurred, is occurring or may occur. The external direct assessment of a pipeline involves four phases:

External Corrosion Direct Assessment: 4 Phases

1. Pre-assessment

In the pre-assessment phase, a detailed right-of-way (ROW) inspection is conducted and all pipeline operating data is collected.

2. Indirect inspection

The indirect testing phase includes two or more of the following testing methods:

3. Direct examination

After the data from the indirect assessment methods are analyzed and reviewed, locations for direct examination are targeted for review and inspection of:

  • Pipeline coating condition
  • Cathodic protection system condition
  • Pipeline defects
  • Pipeline corrosion damage
  • Soil characteristics such as resistivity and pH at pipeline depth
Learn About Soil Resistivity Testing »

4. Post assessment

Upon completion of the direct examinations, a post assessment report provides:

  • Details of all tests conducted
  • Test results
  • All recommendations necessary for pipeline corrosion protection

Qualified MATCOR technical personnel can conduct and analyze the results for all of these external corrosion direct assessment tests for oil, gas and water pipelines.

With MATCOR, you benefit from:

  • Over 45 years of experience with all types of cathodic protection systems
  • Experience testing, installing and maintaining cathodic protection systems for all types of structures throughout the world
  • Highly qualified professional and NACE corrosion engineers and technicians
  • Team members with experience on the client side of CP projects
  • Experience managing multi-million dollar CP projects and corrosion departments of large utilities and pipeline companies
  • MATCOR’s many proprietary cathodic protection systems that are lower in cost and have longer lives than some commonly used CP systems

MATCOR’s mission is to solve your corrosion problems. We are ready to assist with your corrosion engineering and field service needs, including design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance, as well as project management and full turnkey solutions. In addition, we offer a broad range of proprietary corrosion prevention products.

To get in touch with our team of corrosion experts for more information, to ask a question or get a quote, please click below. We will respond by phone or email within 24 hours. For immediate assistance, please call +1-215-348-2974.

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