Systems, apparatuses, and methods to assess corrosion prevention

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices, systems and methods for monitoring anti-corrosion efforts including the efficacy of cathodic protection systems. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices, systems and methods for remote cell cathodic protection (CP) survey data acquisition to sense, display, and record CP survey voltage potential measurements as well as global positioning system and navigation data. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide improvements in terms reduced noise and improved signal quality through the use of copper conductors that connect electrochemical reference cells (i.e., electrodes) to measuring apparatus. Further, improved signal detection is provided by embodiments including reference electrodes that may be placed further (e.g., up to 1000 feet) from a surface vessel than are found in conventional system. Disclosed embodiments also provide highly precise spatial mapping of CP potentials (e.g., to within 0.5 mm spatial resolution in 1000 feet of depth).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A survey system that is configured to conduct a survey of a submerged member protected by a cathodic protection (CP) system, the survey system comprising:
 a surface vessel;   a remotely operated vehicle (ROV);   a first electrode connected to the ROV and positioned at a first distance from the member protected by a cathodic protection system;   a second electrode connected to the surface vessel and positioned at a second distance from the member protected by a cathodic protection system; and   a third electrode connected to the ROV and optionally to the surface vessel and configured to contact the member protected by the cathodic protection system at least at one known point,   wherein the system is configured to measure CP potentials associated with the member protected by the CP system, the measured potentials including a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, between the first electrode and the third electrode, and between the second electrode and the third electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The survey system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor circuit; and   a graphical user interface (GUI),   wherein the processor circuit is configured to collect measured CP potentials from the first, second, and third electrodes and to display the measured potentials on the GUI.   
     
     
         3 . The survey system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a global positioning system (GPS),   wherein the survey system is further configured to measure, using the GPS, spatial coordinates of the member protected by the cathodic protection system to generate a spatial mapping of CP potentials.   
     
     
         4 . The survey system of  claim 3 , wherein the survey system is further configured to generate the spatial mapping of CP potentials having a resolution of ±0.5 mm in a depth of 1000 feet of water. 
     
     
         5 . The survey system of  claim 4 , wherein the survey system is further configured to generate the spatial mapping as a three-dimensional spatial mapping of CP potentials. 
     
     
         6 . The survey system of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is configured to be at least 1000 feet away from the surface vessel and from the first and third electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The survey system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 Cu connectors,   wherein the first, second, and third electrodes are connected by the Cu connectors.   
     
     
         8 . The survey system of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the first, second, and third electrodes are connected by up to 3000 meters of Cu connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The survey system of  claim 1 , wherein the survey system is further configured to measure CP potentials on submerged structures at depths of up to three miles of water. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the survey system is further configured to measure CP potentials at time intervals of about 0.001 seconds or greater. 
     
     
         11 . A method of conducting a survey of a submerged member protected by a CP system, the method comprising:
 deploying a survey system, the survey system including:
 a surface vessel; 
 an ROV; 
 a first electrode connected to the ROV and positioned at a first distance from the member protected by a cathodic protection system; 
 a second electrode connected to the surface vessel and positioned at a second distance from the member protected by a cathodic protection system; and 
 a third electrode connected to the ROV and optionally to the surface vessel and configured to contact the member protected by the cathodic protection system at least at one known point, 
   the method further comprising measuring CP potentials associated with the member protected by the CP system, the measured potentials including a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, between the first electrode and the third electrode, and between the second electrode and the third electrode.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying the measured CP potentials on a GUI. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring, using a GPS, spatial coordinates of the member protected by the cathodic protection system to thereby generate a spatial mapping of CP potentials.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating the spatial mapping of CP potentials to have a resolution of ±0.5 mm in a depth of 1000 feet of water.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 generating the spatial mapping to be a three-dimensional spatial mapping of CP potentials.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring a reference potential using the second electrode that is positioned at least 1000 feet away from the surface vessel and from the first and third electrodes.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring CP potentials using the first, second, and third electrodes that are connected by the Cu connectors.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 measuring CP potentials using the first, second and third electrodes, wherein one or more of the first, second, and third electrodes are connected by up to 3000 meters of Cu connectors.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring CP potentials on submerged structures at depths of up to three miles of water.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring CP potentials at time intervals of about 0.001 seconds or greater.