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CORROSION SURVEYS

Field-Tested Survey Techniques That Turn Pipeline Data Into Decisions

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Corrosion surveys are the eyes of any cathodic protection program. They tell you whether your system is working, where coating defects have developed, where stray current is affecting your pipeline, and where the next failure is most likely to occur. ICG performs the full range of above-ground and direct survey techniques used in the corrosion industry, with the field experience to know which method fits the question being asked, and the engineering judgment to turn raw data into recommendations an owner can actually act on.

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What We Do

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​Our technicians and engineers run surveys across a wide range of assets and conditions: water and wastewater pipelines, oil and gas transmission lines, tank farms, transit corridors, and industrial facilities. We follow current AMPP and industry standards, calibrate our methods to each site, and deliver findings in a format that integrates with how owners plan repairs and budget capital. The goal is always the same: high-quality data, defensible analysis, and clear recommendations.

 

Survey Types

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Cathodic Protection Surveys

  • Annual and periodic CP monitoring surveys

  • CP system commissioning surveys

  • Structure-to-soil potential surveys

  • Cathodic protection current requirement testing

  • Rectifier monitoring and troubleshooting

  • Test point surveys

 
Above-Ground Pipeline Surveys

  • Close Interval Potential Surveys (CIS)

  • AC Voltage Gradient (ACVG) surveys

  • Pipeline Current Mapping (PCM)

  • Pipe locating and depth-of-cover surveys

  • Pipeline continuity testing

  • Electrical isolation testing

 
Stray Current and Interference Surveys

  • Light rail transit stray current testing

  • AC and DC interference evaluations

  • High-voltage powerline AC monitoring and datalogging

  • Long-term datalogging and analysis of dynamic AC and DC potentials

  • Interference mitigation recommendations

 
Site Characterization

  • Soil corrosivity and resistivity testing (Wenner 4-pin and soil box)

  • Internal pipeline corrosion evaluations

  • Coating condition surveys

Choosing the Right Survey

 

One of the most common questions owners ask is: which survey do I actually need? The honest answer is that it depends on what you are trying to learn. A few quick guidelines:

  • For routine compliance and ongoing monitoring: annual cathodic protection surveys and structure-to-soil potential surveys are the standard tools.

  • For locating coating defects on a buried pipeline: close interval surveys (CIS) combined with ACVG provide the most detailed information.

  • For diagnosing unusual or accelerated corrosion: long-term datalogging, stray current testing, and soil resistivity work together to identify root cause.

  • For planning rehabilitation or replacement: a combination of above-ground surveys and direct assessment helps prioritize repairs by risk.

 

ICG works with owners to design survey programs that fit the asset, the budget, and the question on the table. We don't push the most expensive survey by default, and we don't oversell hardware we don't believe you need.

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Why It Matters

Survey data is only useful if it leads to better decisions. A poorly designed survey, or a well-run survey that produces a report nobody can use, is worse than no survey at all because it creates the appearance of due diligence without the substance. ICG's job is to make sure the data you pay for becomes data you use, whether that means catching a coating failure before it becomes a leak, documenting that your cathodic protection system is performing within spec, or building the technical record that supports a capital improvement budget request.

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