Cybex U.S. Corp. has undertaken various research projects as a part of personal and corporate development.  When the extensive field experience of our personnel raises questions about accepted industry approaches and solutions it may be time to review the accepted practices.

 

One particular example of the research undertaken by the company was the evaluation of the potentials measured by a buried reference electrode installed close to a coated pipeline.  The widely accepted concept that the buried reference electrode provided a pipeline potential at the burial location was tested with respect to coating holidays located at a distance from the electrode.

 

The results of the research showed that on a well coated pipeline, coating defects in excess of 20 feet away from the buried reference electrode could be major contributors to the recorded potential.