Investigation of the Mechanism and Causes of the Destruction of the Leakage Damage of the Underground Pipeline Outlet of the Gas Pressure Reduction Station

Document Type : Applied Article

Authors
Mojtaba Soltanpour 1
Ebrahim Mohseni Homagerani 2
Farzad Abbasian 1
Meysam Rasooly 1
1 Technical Inspection Unit, Isfahan Province Gas Company, Isfahan, Iran
2 Managing Director, Isfahan Province Gas Company, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Pressure reduction stations serve as gas distribution centers for industries and households. Leakage in these stations’ pipelines poses explosion hazards and can disrupt gas supply to downstream areas. Highlighting the importance of this issue, this study examines observed leakage on a 6-inch underground pipeline at the outlet of a pressure reduction station connected to the Isfahan Gas Company. After cutting out the damaged section and conducting a visual inspection of the sample, we performed metallographic tests, chemical analysis, hardness testing, and tensile tests. The results of these tests, along with a review of the pipeline’s history, indicated that two corrosion mechanisms—crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC)—contributed to the failure of the sample. Notably, the SCC mechanism led to the formation of cracks and subsequent leakage in the pipeline. The presence of tensile stress in the pipeline, combined with a corrosive environment, created the conditions necessary for SCC to occur, resulting in the initiation and growth of cracks that caused the leakage.

Keywords

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 18 February 2025
  • Revise Date 15 April 2025
  • Accept Date 07 May 2025