What is Integrated External Corrosion Management (IECM)
Integrated External Corrosion Management (IECM) is a comprehensive approach to managing corrosion in buried metallic pipelines. Unlike traditional annual surveys that provide singular measurements at specific points in time, IECM combines multiple sources of data to accurately determine corrosion growth rates and other factors such as DC current density and the impact of AC. This approach allows operators to identify corrosive soil conditions, predict corrosion growth rates at the girth weld level, and develop a more complete picture of the pipeline system overall.
By utilizing data, IECM provides predictive corrosion results and models different scenarios to predict corrosion behavior. The system also offers risk-based remedial ranking based on projected threats. Through analysis of trends and patterns in the data, IECM identifies anomalies and provides a more holistic view of pipeline corrosion risks. By integrating data from multiple sources, IECM offers a comprehensive solution for managing corrosion in buried metallic pipelines.
"Our Mission"
The mission of IECM is to advance the knowledge and practice of corrosion management in the energy industry, with a focus on improving safety, reducing costs, and enhancing the sustainability of energy infrastructure. We strive to promote best practices in corrosion management through collaboration, research, education, and in supporting the development of new standards and guidelines. By bringing together professionals from across the industry, we aim to drive innovation and excellence in corrosion management, with a view to protecting the integrity of energy infrastructure for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The IECM Approach
The IECM Approach
With the IECM approach, operators can expect a range of benefits, including increased safety and reliability of the pipeline system, improvements in operating efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs. By using historical data and analytical tools to model corrosion behavior, IECM enables operators to identify corrosive soil conditions and predict corrosion growth rates at the girth weld level. This allows for proactive maintenance planning and risk-based remediation, reducing the likelihood of unexpected failures and associated costs.
Overall, the IECM approach is aligned with general industry trends towards making better use of extensive historical data and analytical tools to manage corrosion threats more effectively. By providing a more holistic view of pipeline corrosion risks and enabling proactive maintenance, IECM offers a powerful solution for improving the integrity and performance of pipeline systems. This include the following:
"Joining Forces Against Corrosion: Why Companies in the Energy Industry Should Join IECM"
Webinar - How Not to Do Machine Learning for Corrosion Prediction
Over the past two decades, machine learning has experienced exponential growth as a powerful tool for automation. With advancements in hardware and the availability of various software packages and algorithms, machine learning has found its way into many industries, including corrosion management. However, the application of machine learning in the corrosion industry comes with its own unique set of challenges and risks.
Webinar - Geomagnetic Induced Currents (GIC)
Geomagnetic storms cause problems on Earth, from damaging the power grid to disruption of underground pipeline operations. But what exactly are these storms, and by what mechanism do they cause disruption?
ALL EVENTS - 2023
The Integrated External Corrosion Management (IECM) is an innovative approach thatcombines extensive historical data, advanced analytical tools, and mechanistic modelinginto a digital twin to identify potential problems and prevent them before they occur. See all scheduled events.
