L51394 Investigative Techniques to Determine the True Pipe-to-Soil Potential of a Buried Pipeline

The purpose of this research project was to develop measurement techniques that would allow true pipe-to-soil potential of a buried pipeline to be determined. Several measurement techniques were developed and evaluated in the field. This report details those field evaluations. The main objective of this research was to develop a method or methods for eliminating the IR component of the measured pipe-to-soil potential. A minor objective was to investigate the feasibility of using coupons or other appropriate means for measurement techniques requiring a knowledge of current density. These techniques were developed as a compliment, not a replacement, to present methods of measuring the pipe-to-soil potential.