Burst capacity due to corrosion acting at radial orientation of pipeline

Abstract Carbon steel pipeline is known as the safest method to transfer a large volume of oil and gas from sources to the consumers. Carbon steel has higher tendency to fail after long time because of major hazard such as corrosion. Corrosion develops at both sides of pipeline wall; internally and externally thus the strength and integrity are affected caused by such metal deterioration. This paper emphasizes on defects interaction between external and internal walls in the radial orientation towards failure burst pressure. To date, there are no standards, codes or guidelines on radial corrosion defect to explain such behaviour. Seven types of corrosion arrangement retrieved from literature were modelled in finite element software for a pipeline in the grade API 5L X42. Von Mises distribution curve was plotted to determine the pipeline pressure limit at different corrosion arrangement. The maximum radial interaction with the lowest failure pressure was determined from the values obtained.