Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) is a major challenge for many industries. At present, it is managed in many ways, ranging from full removal of insulation to minimal maintenance and inspection (oftentimes with some non-destructive testing methods not able to detect CUI). These two extremes exhibit a lack of understanding and a lack of a systematic approach in managing CUI risks, globally.
The article will describe the results from a recent (2017-2019) CUI Joint Industry Project (JIP) where the oil and gas industry in the North Sea area has developed a methodology for managing the CUI threat. In this context, managing the CUI threat involves risk assessment, risk mitigation, risk update and experience transfer in a systematic manner. The methodology assesses four (4) CUI barriers: material, coating, water wetting and design, each of which will be elaborated on in the article.