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MIC Corrosion Tek Bows ‘Lab in a Pig’

Thursday, August 11, 2011

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MIC Corrosion Tek LLC has introduced MIC-Pig, a pipeline pig that gathers information on internal corrosion and black powder as it travels down a pipeline.

MIC-Pig samples a pipeline’s in-situ gas, oil, water and black powder components to determine internal corrosion causes and appropriate mitigation methods, based on analytical results.

The MIC-Pig measures the population of live MIC bacteria in the gas, liquid and solid phases of a pipeline.

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC), caused by microorganisms in water, can develop quickly and spread aggressively, damaging pipeline integrity. MIC bacteria are believed to be responsible for about 30 percent of all pipeline corrosion.

Interpreting Sampling Differences

St. Charles, MO-based MIC Corrosion Tek developed the MIC-Pig equipment and service after comparing data collected from single-point samples, such as valves, plus end-of-pipeline corrosion by-products after a pig run.

“We were shocked by the difference in sample components between the two common sampling methods when compared from the same pipeline,” said company president Doug Chartier.

“Wrong conclusions can be reached … depending on previous sampling methods, particularly with MIC corrosion and black powder composition.”

MIC corrosion is a local event that single-point sampling may miss, while black powder component analysis depends on the efficiency of the cleaning pig, density, particle size and other variables, said Chartier.

Incorrect analytical conclusions can lead to ineffective corrosion mitigation plans and programs, while sampling from the entire pipeline improves the accuracy of results, conclusions and remediation, Chartier said.

Analysis and Reporting Services

After a user runs MIC-Pig, it is returned to MIC Corrosion Tek for an analysis and report. The report identifies possible causes of the corrosion and recommends mitigation methods. The cost of the system includes the pig, analytical services, recommendations for abatement, and written report.

The equipment may also be used to monitor the effectiveness of mitigation programs.

The manufacturer calls patent-pending MIC-Pig “the only product which samples throughout the pipeline the three phases (gas, liquid and solids) for corrosion sources and by-products.”

MIC Corrosion Tek offers a complete line of corrosion inhibitors, including custom formulations, for oil and gas, pipelines and refinery operations.

More information: www.MIC-Tek.com/mic_pig.