What is metal loss?
Metal loss refers to the removal or thinning of material from the pipeline wall, reducing its thickness and strength.1 This type of anomaly typically occurs due to corrosion or mechanical damage, such as gouging.1,2,3 When metal is lost, the pipe’s ability to withstand operating pressure is compromised, which can lead to structural failure.3
How does metal loss occur?
Metal loss can result from:
Wall-loss without corrosion: Gouge damage is a type of mechanical damage that occurs when a foreign object scrapes or cuts the surface of a pipeline, removing part of the pipe wall.
Wall-loss due to corrosion: The chemical or electrochemical reaction of a material with its environment that results in the deterioration of the material.
Why is metal loss a risk for pipeline safety?
Metal loss can significantly reduce the pipeline’s load-bearing capacity. Risks include:
- Increased likelihood of cracks or ruptures under normal operating pressure.
- Accelerated defect growth when combined with other threats, such as fatigue.
- Potential leaks or catastrophic failure if not promptly detected and repaired.
Would you like to find out more about corrosion or gouging? Expand your knowledge by clicking through the 'Related Terms' section at the bottom of the page.
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Source reference
- Recommended Practice for Assessment and Management of Cracking in Pipelines, API Recommended Practice 1176, July 2016.
- Managing Pipeline Threats, John Tiratsoo, 2019.
- Handbuch Molchtechnik, Bernd Skerra, 2000.