Kazakhstan journal for oil & gas industryKazakhstan journal for oil & gas industry2707-42262957-806XKMG Engineering10884310.54859/kjogi108843Research ArticleCalculation of cathodic (electrochemical) protection stations to ensure corrosion protection and operational reliability of oil pipelinesSarkulovaZhadyrassyn S.<p>PhD, Associate Professor</p>zhadi_0691@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8539-1802IssengaliyevaGulya A.<p>Cand. Sc. (Pedagogics), Associate Professor</p>isengul@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8742-6378ShilmagambetovaZhadra Zh.<p>Cand. Sc. (Pedagogics), Associate Professor</p>zhadra_69@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-8780-7160OrazbekovaRiza Zh.<p>Cand. Sc. (Engineering), Associate Professor</p>riza_o@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-3970-3706The Pennsylvania State UniversityZhubanov University241220257438462603202527112025Copyright © 2025, Sarkulova Z.S., Issengaliyeva G.A., Shilmagambetova Z.Z., Orazbekova R.Z.2025<p><strong>Background: </strong>Corrosion is among the primary factors that diminish the reliability and service life of oil pipelines. Among the existing corrosion-mitigation techniques, cathodic (electrochemical) protection is widely regarded as the most effective method, enabling a substantial extension of pipeline longevity and a significant reduction in operational risks.</p> <p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study is to calculate and analyze the key parameters of cathodic protection stations to ensure effective electrochemical protection of oil pipelines, enhance the reliability of their operation, and prevent corrosion-related degradation.</p> <p><strong>Materials and methods:</strong> The study relied on the regulatory document RD 153-39.4-039-99 and methodological guidelines for the design of electrochemical protection systems. Calculations were performed using the established formulas proposed by Bykov et al. (2006), incorporating soil resistivity as well as the length and geometric parameters of the pipeline. Additionally, the analysis examined how potentials, currents, and resistances are distributed within the pipeline–soil system.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> The study identified the optimal design parameters for cathodic protection stations, including current load, the required number of anodes, grounding resistance, and power supply capacity. The findings demonstrate that properly selecting these parameters helps maintain a stable protection potential and significantly enhances the operational lifetime of the pipeline.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Implementing cathodic protection based on accurately calculated design parameters enhances the operational safety of oil pipelines, mitigates corrosion-related risks, and reduces the overall maintenance costs.</p>oil pipelinescathodic protectionelectrochemical protectioncurrent magnitudeprotection systemмұнай құбырларыкатодтық қорғауэлектрохимиялық қорғауток мөлшеріқорғау жүйесінефтепроводыкатодная защитаэлектрохимическая защитавеличина токасистема защиты1.Rudoy VM, Ostanin NI, Zaikov YP. Proektirovaniye katodnoy zashchity podzemnykh truboprovodov: metodicheskiye ukazaniya. Yekaterinburg: UFU; 2005. 112 p. (In Russ).2.Bykov LI, Mustafin FM, Rafikov SK, et al. Tipovyye raschyoty pri stroitel’stve I remonte gazonefteprovodov. Moscow: Nedra; 2005. 240 p. (In Russ).3.Nikulin SA. Povysheniye effektivnosti predotvrashcheniya korrozii neftegazoprovodov na osnove optimal’nogo regulirovaniya rezhimov raboty stantsii katodnoy zashchity [dissertation]. Ufa; 2015. 150 p. Available from: dissercat.com/content/povyshenie-effektivnosti-predotvrashcheniya-korrozii-neftegazoprovodov-na-osnove-optimalnogo. (In Russ).4.Mukhamedzhanov TS, Abdrakhmanov MM. Munay zhane gas tasymaldau zhuyyelerinin korroziyalyk korgansysy. Almaty: KNRTU; 2019. 204 p. (In Kazakh).5.Tikhomirov VV, Lozovskiy VA. Elektrokhimicheslkaya zashchita metallicheskikh sooruzheniy ot korrozii. Moscow: Energiya; 2016. 176 p. (In Russ).6.Nazarov AA, Kuznetsov YM. Elektrokhimicheslkaya korroziya I zashchita metallov. Moscow: Nauka; 2015. 320 p. (In Russ).7.Peabody AW. Peabody’s Control of Pipeline Corrosion. Houston: NACE International; 2018. 400 p.8.Revie RW, editor. Uhlig’s Corrosion Handbook. John Wiley & Sons; 2016. 728 p.9.Koch G. Trends in Oil and Gas Corrosion Research and Technologies. Elsevier; 2017. 472 p.10.Sarkulova ZS, Zhubandykova ZU, Shukirova SS, Turysbekova AZ. Methods of Corrosion Protection for Equipment and Pipelines in the Oil and Gas Industry. Oil and Gas. 2023;6 (138):171–180.