Solutions of electrical and electrochemical shorts in subway metal casings of railroad crossings, highways, etc. by means of corrosion inhibitor injection and cold gel, approved by DOT and NACE as recommended practice.

The solution consists of not injecting a dielectric micro-crystalline polymer (wax or petrolatum) since it has the difficulty of injecting it by heating it to lower its viscosity and it must be transported in special heated pipes.

The new technology consists of injecting at room temperature; 1) raw water plus, 2) inhibitors in liquid and vapor phase plus, 3) an additive that raises the PH and prevents microorganisms from developing and, 4) a product that makes all the above become GEL in a couple of hours. This avoids leaks and external intrusion of water from the water table to the CASING.

With this new technology it is easier to achieve the filling of a CASING with long lengths than with the old system, in addition the cathodic protection is not interrupted, in fact, it is transmitted to the point where the electrical or electrochemical short exists inside the CASING, giving a certain protection that the problem is solved. This new technology has been approved for use by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and is already a recommended practice in NACE. In addition, it is environmentally friendly unlike dielectric microcrystalline polymers such as waxes, wax or petrolatum.

The VCI Gel technology developed by Zerust is very useful to protect the transport tubes within the CASING, as it allows the cathodic protection to be transmitted and continue to function (within the CASING), directly protecting the point or points (Holiday) of electrochemical shorts or metal-metal contact where the electrical short occurs and in the vast majority of cases without the need to excavate or disturb the environment, but can be done by injecting the VCI Gel through the ventilation tubes.

We work on our Casing Filler service with the company Zerust Oil & Gas, applying their Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs) technology. If you want to learn more about their technology, you can consult their website at the link below.