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CIPS (Close Interval Potential Surveys)

Close interval (pipe to soil) potential surveys provide one of the most reliable indicators of protection levels along a pipeline. They are typically recommended where a pipeline suffers from a lack of protection in specific areas only. They can help indicate areas of concern, for example where a bulk coating failure exists or a short to a foreign structure is suspected. They are a very useful tool in any CP engineers repertoire.

A trailing wire is connected to a CP test point and pipe to soil potentials are measured at regular (close) intervals along the length of a pipeline, thus providing a profile of protection levels along the pipeline section tested.

Sections of pipeline with significant coating defects causing a loss or reduction in protection levels are usually identified with ease.  CIPS surveys can indicate areas where a pipeline may be shorted to another structure and can help identify areas of problem dc interference caused by dc traction systems or CP systems installed on nearby structures.