Experience on offshore cathodic protection retrofitting in the northern South China Sea

Platforms I and II are steel structures located in offshore areas southeast of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Delta, the northern South China Sea, in about 110 m water depth. The jackets, with aluminum sacrificial anodes for cathodic protection (CP) of the immersed zone, were launched in March 1995. In May 1996 a CP survey showed that, after almost one year of service, a low polarization level had been achieved and some extended unprotected zones existed, mainly in the deepest part of the Platform II. Further to this, a joint activity was decided in order to assess the need of a possible retrofitting of the CF systems. The results of the activity carried out are dealt with, including technical and economical comparisons amongst several retrofitting options, both with sacrificial anodes and with impressed current systems. The adopted solution is illustrated and data are reported on the level of protection presently achieved.