6 November 2020

It is a well-known fact that bare steel will rust when exposed to water or moisture, especially saltwater. Protective coatings, in simple terms, protect steel from corrosion by acting as thin barriers to inhibit or significantly delay moisture and salt contacting the steel. This is critical in the hydrocarbon industry, where a combustible gas or liquid release can result in catastrophic damage and loss of life.

Protective coatings are basically paints usually containing a combination of extender and functional barrier pigments to achieve the desired physical and impermeability properties of the cured coating. Barrier pigments usually have a flat, plate-like shape to inhibit moisture and soluble salts reaching the steel. Although only a very small component of the overall oil and gas project, the protective coating system can have a disproportionate effect on success and project budgets if a failure or widespread defect occurs.

In this article Andrew Hodkinson, Regional Head and Senior Resources Adjuster, Australia & New Zealand, has called upon the knowledge of coating expert Dr John Scheirs of ExcelPlas to shed some light on the history of typical  failures experienced, and the latest technology and evolution of coatings in the past decade in their application to the hydrocarbon industry.