Pipeline 101
Corrosion Control

Corrosion occurs naturally any time metal and electrolytes, such as water, come into direct contact. External pipe corrosion poses the biggest challenge along the Trans Alaska Pipeline System's 380 miles of buried pipe. Alyeska's corrosion monitoring and repair program limits pipeline corrosion to insignificant levels. It uses standard industry corrosion analysis techniques plus more rigorous computer analysis programs that account corrosion depth and surface extent. Corrosion repair options include recoating metals with anticorrosive chemicals, sleeving pipe with protective coverings and pipe replacement. None of the TAPS' 48-inch diameter mainline pipe has ever leaked because of corrosion.