UNDERSTANDING AC INTERFERENCE
and
MITIGATION SOLUTIONS
Professional | Disciplined | Relentless | Service
Alabama Public Service Commission
31st Annual Pipeline Safety Seminar
Montgomery, AL
December 4, 2018
Clay Brelsford
Bass Engineering Company
AC Interference
Co-Location
Pipelines
HVAC Power Systems
Creates Complex,
Electro-magnetic Interaction
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Capacitive Coupling
Electric Field Influence
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Inductive Coupling
Magnetic Field Influence
AC Power
Induced AC
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Resistive Coupling
Shared Conductive Path
Fault or “Short-Circuit” HVAC Conditions
Lightning
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AC Interference = Risk
• Personnel
• Step-Step Potential
• Step-Touch Potential
• Pipeline Equipment
• Metering
• Electrical Isolation
• CP System
• ICCP/GCP Damage
• Pipeline
• AC Corrosion
Resistive Coupling
Fault or “Short-Circuit” HVAC Conditions
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AC Corrosion Morphology
Tubercle Pits Within Pits
Coating Deformation
AC Corrosion & AC Current Density
Expressed as a Function of AC Voltage & Soil Resistivity
ACCD AC Corrosion Risk
< 20 A/M2 Low Risk
20-100 A/M2 Medium Likelihood
> 100 A/M2 Very High Likelihood
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Risk Factors
Multiple
Dynamic
Interactive
Geezzzz…Can I Get Some Help Here?
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Federal Law
• 49 CFR 192.467 (f)
• External Corrosion Control; Electrical Isolation
• 49 CFR 195.575 (e)
• External Corrosion Control; Electrical Isolation
• 29 CFR 1910
• 29 CFR 1926
Yea…Not Really What I was Looking for….
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NACE
• NACE SP0177-2014
• Mitigation of Alternating Current and Lightning Effects on Metallic
Structures and Corrosion Control Systems
• NACE SP21424-2018
• Alternating Current Corrosion on Cathodically Protected Pipelines:
Risk Assessment, Mitigation, and Monitoring
• AC Corrosion State-of-the-Art Report: Corrosion Rate,
Mechanism, & Mitigation Requirements #35110
• NACE SP0104-2014
• The Use of Coupons for Cathodic Protection Monitoring
• Technical Report on the Application & Interpretation of Data
from External Coupons Used in the Evaluation of Cathodically
Protected Metallic Structures #35201
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Other
• Canadian Standard
• CAN/CSA – C22.3 No. 6-13
• Principles and Practices of Electrical Coordination Between Pipelines and Electric
Supply Lines
• European Standard
• BS EN 15280:2013
• Evaluation of AC Corrosion Likelihood of Buried Pipelines Applicable to Cathodically
Protected Pipelines
• Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA)
• Criteria for Pipelines Co-existing with Electric Power Lines; 2015-04 Final
Report
• National Electric Code (NEC), Article 250
• Grounding & Bonding
• Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
• PRCI
• On-going Research; EC 6-2, EC 6-4
Confused?
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AC Interference Threat Risk Assessment
An object impacted by an abnormal event or failure.
Personnel, PL Assets, CP Systems
RECEPTOR
A position or site marked by some distinguishing feature.
LOCATION Aboveground appurtenances, station numbers
MECHANISM
A natural or established process by which something
takes place or is brought about.
Capacitive, Inductive & Resistive Coupling
THREAT
An indication of something impending.
FACTOR Elevated AC potentials, elevated AC current density,
Apply Industry Risk Concepts step/touch potentials
Something that actively contributes to the production
of a result.
Lateral separation distance, co-location length, crossing
angle, soil resistivity, HVAC current, etc.
Threat Risk Assessment; Resistive Coupling
Personnel
Electrical Isolation
RECEPTOR
LOCATION Valve setting; ID by station #
MECHANISM
Resistive Coupling
THREAT
Elevated AC potentials
FACTOR
Step-touch potentials
Lateral separation distance
Soil resistivity
AC Threat Risk Factors
1 2 3 4
Geospatial HVAC System Environmental Pipeline
Relationship Operating Conditions Design
Parameters
Lateral
HVAC Soil Coating
Separation
Current* Resistivity* Resistance
Distance*
Collocation
HVAC Voltage AC Current Aboveground
Length*
Density Appurtenances
Crossing Fault Current
Angle* Load
Cased Crossings
*
Identify & Prioritize
Over 7,000 miles of
transmission PL and
large diameter
distribution mains
serving several rural and
major metropolitan areas
Assets spread over six
environmental
geographies
Wide ranging pipe
design and operating
parameters
Analyze HVAC Data
Obtained 41,322 miles of
HVAC centerline and
operational data from Platts,
PennWell, & RexTag
Converted Rated Voltage
to AC Current
0-69 kV
70-138 kV
138-230 kV
231-345 kV
346-500 kV
Geospatial Analysis; PL & HVAC System
Utilize GIS tools to determine
• Lateral separation distance
• Co-location length
• Co-location angle
• Crossing angle
Geospatial Analysis; Soil Resistivity
Vast pipeline system
spread across 6
geographical regions
Acquired USGS
SSURGO soils data
Utilize UGIS tools to
determine soil resistivity
for co-location
AC Threat Risk Analysis
Import GIS Data into RIPL
Separation Distance
Co-location Length
Co-location Angle
Crossing Angle
HVAC Voltage
HVAC Current
Soil Resistivity
Combined with Existing:
Pipe Coating Resistance
Create Threat Ranking
Analysis dynamically segmenting and
ranking PL based on specific factors
combined into a threat score
Engineered Field Analysis
• Differentiate above & below ground assets
• Design gradient control mats
• Identify electrical isolation locations
• Design decoupler installations
• Design engineered grounding system locations
• Incorporate “natural” grounding
• Address lightning mitigation
• Address safe arc distance
• Substations, guy anchors, etc.
• Incorporate AC mitigation system monitoring
AC & Lightning Mitigation Tools
• Engineering Controls
• Decoupling Devices
• Engineered Grounding Systems
• Gradient Control Mats
• Coupon Test Stations
Signage
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Dead Front Test Stations
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Decoupling Devices
Polarization Solid State
Cell Decoupler
(SSD)
Zinc Anode
Pair
Polarization Cell
Replacement (PCR)
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Engineered Grounding Systems
PCR
Pipeline
Deep Vertical Point Ground (DVPG)
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Engineered Grounding Systems
Linear Ground PCR
Linear Array
PCR
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Engineered Grounding Systems
Natural Grounds
Pipeline Casing
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Gradient Control Mats
Magnesium Anode
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Gradient Control Mat Assembly
Exothermically Welded @ Seams on 18” Centers
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Lead Length is Critical!
Pin Brazed Connections
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Monitoring
• Measure PL AC & DC P/S Potentials
• Measure AC & DC Current
• Calculate PL AC & DC Current Density
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Remote Monitoring w/ CTS
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The Complete Package
• AC Threat Risk Analysis
• Prioritize pipeline assets at risk
• Engineered Field Analysis
• Gather critical field data
• Soil resistance
• Electrical isolation locations
• Aboveground assets/security dimensions
• Cased crossings
• HVAC guyed anchors
Summary
• AC Interference is Complex
• Influenced by Design & Operating Conditions…Dynamic!
• Design Protocol
• AC Threat Risk Analysis w/ Engineered Field Design
• Integrated ACLM Solution Using Multiple AC Mitigation Tools
• Monitor!!
Clay Brelsford
Bass Engineering Company
[Link]@[Link]
903-759-1633
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