What is a common mitigation measure to reduce stray currents on pipelines?

• A. Increase external grounding to eliminate stray currents.
• B. Install insulating joints.
• C. Coat with copper-based paint.
• D. Increase pipeline diameter.

Answer: (B)

Stray currents travel through conductive paths, including buried pipelines, and can cause accelerated corrosion where they enter or exit the metal. The key to mitigating this is to interrupt the electrical path along the pipe. Installing insulating joints provides electrical separation between sections of the pipeline, breaking the continuity that stray currents use to travel from one area of soil to another. By isolating the pipe segments, the current can no longer flow along the pipeline, which significantly reduces stray-current corrosion risks.

Other options don’t stop the current from moving along the pipe: increasing external grounding doesn’t break the electrical path itself, it may just offer alternative paths for current. Copper-based paint is conductive and would not insulate the surface; it could even facilitate current flow along the coating. Increasing the pipe diameter has no effect on the electrical continuity or stray current pathways.