Work Instruction No.

:
Asset Protection
Cathodic Protection 6613

Cathodic Protection Maintenance Of Offshore

Approved by: Manager
Platforms (Impressed Current System) Pipeline Standards

1 PURPOSE • Using the platform general layout drawings

determine the location of all Cathodic
The purpose of this work instruction is to
Protection Units and pipeline risers.
describe the Cathodic Protection System
inspection and maintenance activities
conducted on an Offshore Platform protected 4.1 Cathodic Protection Units
by an impressed current system. All works
• Confirm the operation and
shall be carried out to comply with APT O&MS
functionality of all Cathodic
and Offshore Platform Health, Safety and
Protection Units in accordance with
Environmental Management Systems and
Work Instruction 6610 and record the
meet all relevant statutory gas supply
following details for each unit:
legislation.
• Total Cathodic Protection Unit
Outputs.
2 REFERENCES
• Individual anode circuit outputs.
9019 Cathodic Protection System • Individual pipeline circuit outputs.
Maintenance and Testing Procedure

Note: - All cathodic protection
units shall be left ‘ON’ during this
3 GENERAL INFORMATION part of the survey.
Inspections of Offshore Platform Cathodic
Protection Systems are conducted to ensure 4.2 Pipeline Riser ‘ON’ Potential Survey
the functionality and integrity of all equipment.
Inspections must include: • Physically locate the pipeline risers
from the cellar, sub-cellar or the sea
deck.
• Systematically surveying the cathodic
• Visually inspect each pipeline riser
protection of the offshore platform and within the splash zone for corrosion
pipeline risers.
taking note and if necessary
• Inspecting and recording the output of all photograph all anomalies
Cathodic Protection Units. discovered.
• Inspecting and recording all potential • Place the Silver/Silver Chloride
measurements of nominated platform portable reference cell in the water
structure areas and all pipeline risers. 30 metres below the Mean Sea
• Inspecting all pipeline risers and jackets for Level beside the pipeline riser, take
corrosion within their splash zone area. note of the oceans direction and
current strength.
• Inspect anode conductor tubes, caps and
associated cabling.
Note: The survey shall not be
carried out in strong ocean
• Carrying out any other relevant inspections
currents.
that are required by the relevant Offshore
Platform Supervisor. • Determine pipeline riser survey
location.
• Identifying any future remedial works that
may become eminent.
Note: Pipeline risers are to be
tested on the sub sea side of the
last insulating flange / monolithic
4 PROCEDURE insulating joint leaving the
• Discuss the Cathodic Protection Work platform.
Scope with the Platform Supervisor. • Using an intrinsically safe voltmeter
measure and record the potential of
all pipeline risers and jacket
Issue 2 October 2007 Page 1 of 3
 Cathodic Protection Maintenance Of Work Instruction No.:
Offshore Platforms (Impressed 6613
Current System)

structures relative to a Silver/Silver
Note: The survey shall not be

Chloride reference cell. carried out in strong ocean
currents.
4.3 Strut ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’ Potential
Recordings (Where Applicable) 4.5 Platform Jacket ‘OFF’ Potential Survey
• Switch the pipeline riser cathodic • Locate the jacket survey locations.
protection unit to the ‘OFF’ position • Place the Silver/Silver Chloride
(de-energised). portable reference cell in the water 6
• Switch the jacket cathodic protection metres below the Mean Sea Level
unit to the ‘OFF’ position (de- beside the jacket, take note of the
energised). oceans direction and current

Note: It is important that the strength.
cathodic protection units be
Note: The survey shall not be
switched off in this order as carried out in strong ocean
damage to the pipeline riser currents.
cathodic protection unit may result • Using an intrinsically safe voltmeter
if the jacket cathodic protection measure and record the potential of
unit is switched off first. the jacket relative to a Silver/Silver
• Commence the strut cathodic Chloride reference cell.
protection unit readings where • Lower the Silver/Silver Chloride
applicable. reference cell at 6 metre intervals
• Activate the strut cathodic protection and using an intrinsically safe
unit’s internal interrupter and record voltmeter measure and record the
the ‘OFF’ potentials at the reference potential of the jacket at each
points via the selector switch on the interval. This process is to be
Strut Cathodic Protection Unit. continued until the mud line has
• Deactivate the Strut Cathodic been reached with the Silver/Silver
Protection Units internal interrupter Chloride reference cell.
when all readings have been • Repeat the above steps until all
obtained. nominated sides of the jacket have
• Switch the strut Cathodic Protection been completed.
Unit to the “OFF” position.
4.6 Re-Commissioning of Isolated
4.4 Pipeline Risers ‘OFF’ Potential Survey Cathodic Protection Units

• With all Cathodic Protection Units in • Switch the Strut Cathodic Protection
the ‘OFF’ position commence the Unit to the ‘ON’ position.
pipeline riser ‘OFF’ potential survey. • Switch the Jacket Cathodic
• Determine the riser survey locations. Protection Unit to the ‘ON’ position.
• Place the Silver/Silver Chloride • Switch the Pipeline Riser Cathodic
portable reference cell in the water Protection Unit to the ‘ON’ position.
30 metres below the Mean Sea
Note: It is important that the
Level beside the pipeline riser, take cathodic protection units be
note of the oceans direction and switched on in the order as
current strength. described above, as damage may
• Using an intrinsically safe voltmeter occur to the pipeline riser cathodic
measure and record the potential of protection unit if it is not switched
all pipeline risers and jacket on last.
structures relative to a Silver/Silver • Verify that the Strut, Jacket and
Chloride reference cell. Pipeline Riser Cathodic Protection
Units are functioning correctly.
Issue 2 October 2007 Page 2 of 3
 Cathodic Protection Maintenance Of Work Instruction No.:
Offshore Platforms (Impressed 6613
Current System)

4.7 Review of Potential Survey

• Review all survey measurements
recorded and determine if the
Cathodic Protection Units output
require adjustment. Adjust the
Cathodic Protection Units output as
required.
• Determine if the Cathodic Protection
Units require any routine or other
maintenance and where required
raise Maintenance Work Orders for
the repairs or maintenance of the
Cathodic Protection System.
• Provide a brief report to the Offshore
Platform Supervisor highlighting the
outcomes of the inspections and
surveys conducted.
• Place the brief inspection and survey
report in the Platform Cathodic
Protection File.

Issue 2 October 2007 Page 3 of 3