BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct.2
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Considering the chemical characteristics of sea water at berths, sacrificial anode protectors were selected and anodes were installed to the steel structures of berths for the purpose of galvanic protection at the Kulevi oil terminal of Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR, Trend reports citing the terminal's website.
Efficiency of anodes is being systematically monitored and reported by the terminal’s qualified specialists.
Considering that sacrificial anodes are installed in underwater section of the berth piles specialized contractor has been involved in underwater visual inspection of the anode integrity to the steel structures on September 2020 and corresponding underwater maintenance works have been carried out to improve anodes monitoring and measurement efficiency.
Corrosion of steel structures at berths due to the aggressive sea water environment is one of the most destructive processes. As it is well known, sea water contains high concentrations of salts that together with dissolved oxygen constitute to an accelerated corrosion of metals. In order to decrease the corrosion rates of steel structures in sea water environment and to extend their service life, several methods have been designed. One of these methods is protection of steel structures with galvanic sacrificial metals, such as aluminum alloy.
At Kulevi Oil Terminal the front wall of berths is made of steel sheet piles (Larsen's piles). In seawater, especially in the splash zones, the steel sheet piles are subject to corrosion damage, in particular, during exploitation multiple through holes, so called pitting may appear.
The terminal in the Kulevi port was put into operation in May 2008, and the transshipment of oil products was launched in June. The total capacity of the terminal is 10 million tons of liquid bulk oil cargo per year, including three million tons of oil, three million tons of diesel fuel, and four million tons of fuel oil. The total capacity of the tank farm of the terminal is 402,000 cubic meters.
The terminal is used for shipment of crude oil, fuel oil, diesel fuel, gas oil, methanol, aviation fuel, propylene, liquid pyrolysis resin, naphtha, isopropyl alcohol, diesel fuel with ultra-low sulfur content, industrial oil, and condensate.
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