Risk Based Management of Corrosion Under Insulation

Introduction

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) is a major challenge for many industries. At present, it is managed in many ways, ranging from full removal of insulation to minimal maintenance and inspection (oftentimes with some non-destructive testing methods not able to detect CUI). These two extremes exhibit a lack of understanding and a lack of a systematic approach in managing CUI risks, globally.

The article will describe the results from a recent (2017-2019) CUI Joint Industry Project (JIP) where the oil and gas industry in the North Sea area has developed a methodology for managing the CUI threat. In this context, managing the CUI threat involves risk assessment, risk mitigation, risk update, and experience transfer in a systematic manner. The methodology assesses four (4) CUI barriers: material, coating, water wetting, and design, each of which will be elaborated on in the article.

This methodology is available for the industry in DNV GL’s RP-G109 "Risk Based Management of Corrosion Under Insulation" as of December 2019. The Recommended Practice may be used in conjunction with already developed software platforms that support the work process. The software can be aligned with individual company-specific requirements, as well as solely relying on the basic selected methodology, or combinations thereof.