Cathodic Protection (CP)

Cathodic protection is an electrochemical technique that suppresses corrosion on buried or submerged steel pipelines by making the pipeline the cathode of a controlled electrochemical cell, either with sacrificial anodes or an impressed-current system. It is one of the primary defences against external corrosion on coated steel lines, complementing the coating by protecting any exposed metal at coating defects. CP effectiveness is monitored through pipe-to-soil potential measurements; gaps or drift in those readings indicate zones where the protective current is inadequate and corrosion risk is elevated.