Strategy Development for Corrosion Problem in Geothermal Installations Based on Corrosion Management Technology

Abstract

Major concern for geothermal installations is the prevention of major incidents resulting from failure of safety-critical elements. Addressing this hazard requires an understanding of failure modes and use of industry standard procedures for the assessment and control of risks. Corrosion related failures of processing facilities are a major source of risk to geothermal industry installations. Corrosion can be a life-limiting cause of deterioration by general wastage, and/or pitting and/or environmentally assisted cracking to plant items which in turn can lead to loss of containment of process fluids. Most practices and procedures employed for the control of corrosion in geothermal facilities involves proven technology that is generally accepted world wide. These can be considered as the tactical aspects or corrosion control options: material selection, chemical treatments, use of coating, cathodic protection, process and environmental control, and design. These options are used either of singly or in combination, where the choice depends on the specific application and the corrosivity of local environments.

Engineering success requires selection of the most viable options, both technical and economic, then, by means of corrosion inspection and monitoring, combined with suitable maintenance strategies and procedures ensure that the life cycle objectives are achieved as integrated in Corrosion Management Technology. In practice, there is a need to improve the feedback from operational experience to future designs. The practical means of achieving specified objectives (minimum leakage and downtime, lowest life cycle costs) requires guidelines, codes and standards for specification of the works (the tactics) plus suitable management procedures and systems (the strategic means).