About SPARC

Project Title

Development of Nanostructured Polymetallic Antifouling Coatings in Oil and Gas/Biofuel Pipelines

Proposal ID-872

Funding Agency

Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India

Sanction Number: SPARC/2018-2019/P872/SL

Duration of Project : June 2019 - May 2021

Highlight

Oil must be transported by a network of pipelines, laid over various harsh environments. In oil and gas/biofuel pipelines and storage tanks made of efficient and cost-effective carbon steel (CS) biofilms still cause significant operational problems due to microbial invasion. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is the most abundant bacterial species that cause internal corrosion of the pipelines. This leads to reduction of flow, souring and reservoir plugging thereby enhance the corrosion on bacterial adhered surface. The surfaces of pipeline colonize with the biofilm and form the complex microbial structure which breaks down even the heavy-walled CS pipes, resulting in leaks and catastrophic pipeline failure and thus reduces the quality of oil and gas/biofuel pipelines and storage tanks, therefore causing great financial losses worldwide. So, the study of protecting CS pipeline surface with a protective nanostructured polymetallic antifouling coating is therefore quite significant. Electroless coating of CS oil and gas/biofuel pipelines and storage tanks with copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) imparted with nickel (Ni) for more permanence and phosphorus (P) for enhanced corrosion resistance is known to have excellent toxicity for fouling organisms. Indian team has experience in surface modification of metals and has an approach to develop the electroless technique to control on-site Bio-corrosion. Australian team has experience in work with identification and characterization of biofilms and biofouling mechanism. The final milestone of this joint research is to provide inhibition SRB biofouling in oil and steel pipelines.