Effective Earthing System for Oil and Gas Facilities in Southern Swamp of Niger Delta Area, Nigeria

G. O. Uzedhe; Philip C. Adoh

G. O. Uzedhe Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria
Philip C. Adoh Philco Engineers, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

Keywords: Cathodic protection, Corrosion, Earth electrode, Electrode resistance, Soil resistivity, Corrosivity

Abstract

This paper presents an effective earthing system for oil and gas facilities in southern swamp of Niger Delta area, Nigeria. The methodology adopted in this paper includes the selection of four Shell facilities in the southern swamp of Niger Delta area; the facilities are the flow stations at Tunu, Ogbotobo, Opukushi and Benesede. Sand and water resistivity tests using the in-situ method were carried out in the selected area of study to determine the corrosivity. Also, a comparative study was done on the earth electrode resistance tests carried out on the existing facilities earthing and the remodelled facilities earthing in the locations of study. The fall of potential method was adopted for the earth electrode resistance measurement. The resistivity values for sand samples in their natural state and that of water samples collected from the creek are in the range: 11,342 – 19,937Wcm and 7,495 – 32,522Wcm respectively while the corresponding pH values are 3.45 – 8.28 and 5.64 – 6.84. The results show that the sand and water samples are mildly corrosive in their natural condition, which indicates that the area is corrosive, and this requires proper selection of earth electrode. There was a sharp contrast between the electrode resistance reading for the existing facilities earthing and the remodelled facilities earthing. The existing facilities earthing has the average reading range for individual electrode (1.28 – 14.78W) and the grouped electrode reading (1.28 – 7.43W). The remodelled facilities earthing, which has heavily galvanised steel rods as electrodes has the average reading for individual electrodes range from 1.40 – 2.30W while the grouped electrode reading is 0.002W. This study showed that the remodelled facilities earthing which has heavily galvanised steel rods as electrodes are the preferred choice.

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