Overview
ISO 15589-2:2024 - Cathodic protection of pipeline transportation systems - Part 2: Offshore pipelines - defines requirements and recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of cathodic protection (CP) systems for offshore pipelines. Applicable to the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries (as referenced by ISO 13623), this standard covers flexible pipelines, in-field flowlines, spools and risers (up to mean water level) and applies to carbon steel, stainless steel and flexible metallic pipelines in all seawater and seabed environments. Subsea production and injection equipment and structures are excluded.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability: CP for offshore pipelines, including retrofits, modifications and repairs; excludes subsea production/injection equipment.
- Pre-installation surveys: Requirements for baseline surveys and data needed to inform CP design.
- System selection and design: Guidance on choosing between galvanic (sacrificial) anodes and impressed-current systems; defining CP design life and current density considerations.
- Protection criteria: Specification of protection potentials and evaluation for risks such as hydrogen-induced stress cracking (HISC).
- Materials and manufacturing: Standards for galvanic anode materials (aluminium, zinc, etc.), core construction, coating and quality control tests.
- Installation and commissioning: Mechanical and electrical installation practices, commissioning procedures and documentation requirements.
- Operation, monitoring and maintenance: Monitoring plans, CP surveys, inspection intervals, troubleshooting, repair and record-keeping.
- Special zones & conditions: Considerations for splash zone, buried sections, elevated temperatures, current drains and attenuation of protection.
- Annexes: Normative procedures for CP design, monitoring and performance qualification testing and informative guidance on interference and pipeline design for CP.
Applications
ISO 15589-2:2024 is used to:
- Design robust CP systems for new offshore pipeline installations.
- Specify materials, manufacturing and quality control for galvanic anodes and impressed-current components.
- Plan pre-installation surveys and CP commissioning for offshore projects.
- Develop monitoring and maintenance programs to manage corrosion risk over the pipeline life.
- Support retrofits, repairs and modifications to existing offshore pipeline CP systems.
Who should use this standard
- Pipeline and corrosion engineers
- EPC contractors and marine installation teams
- Asset operators and integrity managers in oil, gas and lower-carbon energy sectors
- Manufacturers of anodes and CP equipment
- Inspection and survey organizations
- Regulators and clients specifying offshore pipeline integrity requirements
Related standards
- ISO 13623 (industry scope reference)
- Other documents in the ISO 15589 series and industry guidance on pipeline integrity and corrosion control
Keywords: ISO 15589-2:2024, cathodic protection, offshore pipelines, corrosion protection, galvanic anodes, impressed-current CP, pipeline integrity, oil and gas, lower carbon energy.