Moisture accumulation remains one of the greatest challenges to industrial pipeline integrity in refineries, terminals, and processing plants. In this context, corrosion prevention has become a priority for operators seeking to extend the service life of their assets and reduce operational failures. During NISTM 2026, Steve Young, Sales and Business Development Manager at Deepwater Corrosion Services, explained how an incorrect understanding of the origin of corrosion has led for years to ineffective solutions in pipe supports.
In many industrial facilities, corrosion appears precisely at the points where the pipe comes into contact with the metal support. For decades, much of the industry assumed that the problem was primarily related to contact between dissimilar metals. However, Steve Young explained that the true origin is usually trapped moisture.
When a pipe rests directly on a flat surface, a small cavity is created where water can accumulate for extended periods. That retained moisture accelerates metal deterioration and hinders early damage detection.
According to Young, one of the most common field errors is the use of rubber or neoprene pads to separate metal surfaces. Although many operations consider that these materials help reduce corrosion, the reality is different. Over time, these components absorb water and function like a sponge, increasing moisture presence and aggravating the problem.
The industry often thinks that contact between materials is the main problem. But what really matters is eliminating moisture.
Steve Young explained.
This approach completely changes the way many companies address corrosion prevention in industrial piping.
The solution presented by Deepwater Corrosion Services is based on a simple principle: allowing air circulation beneath the pipe to prevent water accumulation.
The I-Rod® system slightly elevates the pipe above the support using a half-round component that creates an open space for ventilation. This separation prevents moisture from remaining trapped and promotes natural water evaporation.
The technology is designed for above ground applications where pipes rest on flat metal supports, an extremely common situation in oil and gas facilities, storage terminals, refineries, and petrochemical plants.
In addition to preventing moisture accumulation, the system also helps reduce mechanical wear points associated with vibration and compression on the support surface.
Deepwater noted that the product has been specified globally for over 30 years in industrial projects where pipeline integrity is critical to operational continuity.
One of the most relevant aspects mentioned during the interview was the impact that this type of solution has on industrial inspections.
When a pipe rests directly on a support, the bottom portion is practically hidden. This hinders visual inspections and complicates NDT testing intended to detect thickness loss or localized deterioration.
With the installation of I-Rod®, the bottom portion of the pipe becomes visible. According to Young, this allows inspectors to quickly identify any anomaly without the need for complex disassembly or invasive procedures.
If the pipe is elevated above the support, the inspector can approach and immediately see if a problem exists
Young explained.
In operations where thousands of supports are distributed across large facilities, this capability can translate into much more agile inspection processes and a significant reduction in maintenance time.
Likewise, improving visual accessibility facilitates decision-making during mechanical integrity and predictive maintenance programs.
During the conversation at NISTM 2026, Steve Young also detailed the thermal capabilities of the materials used in I-Rod®.
The line includes different configurations depending on operating conditions:
These variants allow the system to be used in different industrial processes where operating temperatures represent a critical factor for material selection.
The availability of multiple configurations also facilitates its implementation in petrochemical and processing facilities where lines with different thermal requirements coexist.
Deepwater Corrosion Services has a track record of several decades in corrosion control technologies and industrial asset protection. The company works in offshore and onshore sectors offering cathodic protection, inspection, monitoring, and corrosion analysis services.
In addition to I-Rod®, the company develops solutions for marine infrastructure, offshore platforms, port terminals, pipelines, and offshore wind energy projects.
The company also manufactures inspection instruments and monitoring systems used in structural integrity programs and corrosion assessment in different regions of the world.
With offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Australia, Deepwater maintains operations focused on extending the service life of industrial assets and reducing costs associated with infrastructure deterioration.
The conversation presented during NISTM 2026 made it clear that corrosion prevention no longer depends solely on coatings or physical barriers. Increasingly, operators are seeking solutions capable of directly attacking the origin of the problem.
In the case of pipe supports, eliminating trapped moisture has become a key element to improve operational reliability, facilitate inspections, and reduce corrective interventions.
The proposal from Deepwater Corrosion Services aims precisely at that objective: transforming a historically vulnerable point in industrial facilities into a much more accessible, ventilated, and easy-to-monitor area.
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Source: Inspenet.
