Materials System Specification

17-SAMSS-007
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

31 December 2011

Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents
1

Scope............................................................. 2

Conflicts and Deviations................................. 2

References..................................................... 2

General........................................................... 3

Manufacturer's Technical Qualifications......... 5

Design............................................................ 6

Inspection and Factory Tests......................... 9

Packing and Shipping.................................. 11

Previous Issue: 17 January 2007

Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin
Primary contact: Zubail, Saleh Abdullah on +966-3-8809599
CopyrightSaudi Aramco 2011. All rights reserved.

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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

Scope
This specification together with the Purchase Order covers the minimum requirements
for impressed current anodes (with or without cables) for cathodic protection.
Applications include offshore, nearshore and onshore installations.

Conflicts and Deviations

2.1

Any conflicts between this specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager of the Consulting Services Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2

Direct all requests to deviate from this specification in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager of the Consulting Services Department
of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

References
Materials or equipment supplied to this specification shall comply with the latest edition
of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.
3.1

Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure
SAEP-302

Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory

Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specification

17-SAMSS-017

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection Cables

Commentary Note:
If anodes are ordered with attached cables, 17-SAMSS-017 shall be attached to
the Purchase Order.

Saudi Aramco Standard Drawings

AB-036008

Offshore-Mixed Metal Oxide Anode for Pile

Mounting

AA-036304

Offshore-Installation Details for Pile Mounted

Anodes
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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

Saudi Aramco Inspection Requirement

175-171400
3.2

Impressed Current Anodes

Industry Codes and Standards

American Society for Testing and Materials
ASTM B338

Seamless and Welded Titanium and titanium Alloy

Tubes for Condensers and Heat Exchangers

Deutsches Institute for Normung e.V.

DIN STD 17866
4

Welded Circular Titanium and Titanium Alloy Tubes

General
4.1

Terms and Definitions

The following terms are used in this specification:
Anode: Where used in this specification, the term Anode shall refer to a
Impressed current anode.
Lead Wire: Where used in this specification, the term Lead Wire shall refer
to a cable directly connected to an anode.
Buyer: Saudi Aramco Purchasing Department Representative.
Buyer's Representative: The person or persons designated by the Purchasing
Department to monitor/enforce the contact.
CSD: Consulting Services Department.
Manufacturer: The Company that manufactures the anode.
Reference Electrodes: Standard silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl/0.6M Cl)
reference cells.
SME: Subject Mater Expert for Cathodic Protection Materials in CSD

4.2

Site Conditions
4.2.1

Onshore
Temperature
pH
Chloride Content

0C to 80C
1 to 8
Up to 31,000 ppm
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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

4.2.2

Offshore
Temperature
pH No Chlorine Gas
pH Chlorine Gas
Water Velocity

4.2.3

10C to 80C
6 to 8
1 to 8
Up to 1.5 m per second

Special Applications
Special applications such as inside storage tanks or process equipment
may present different or extreme operating conditions. If so, the
expected conditions shall be specified in the purchase order.

4.3

Manufacturer Technical Document Submittals

4.3.1

The English language shall be used on all documents, drawings, labels,

etc.

4.3.2

Technical Documents for Manufacturer Prequalification to Supply

Material
The Manufacturer shall submit the following documents to the Saudi
Aramco Strategic Sourcing Division:

4.4

a)

Manufacturer's material specification.

b)

Manufacturer certified drawings showing all dimensions and

details.

c)

Manufacturer certified test data for the electrochemical properties

and chemical composition confirming compliance with Section 6
of this specification.

d)

Submit the specification of individual components of impressed

current anode.

Ordering Information
The following shall be included with the Purchase Order:

4.5

Type of anode material

Net anode material mass

Critical dimensions, e.g., length and diameter

Manufacturer Document Submittals

The Manufacturer shall submit the following documents. Any proposed
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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

alternative designs in addition to the require design shall be clearly described in

these submittals.
a)

Manufacturer's name.

b)

Nominal and maximum anode output current capacity.

c)

Anode material composition.

d)

Test data and certificate of compliance with Section 6.

e)

Certified drawings, fully dimensioned and scaled, showing details of anode

assembly.

f)

Anode cable material specification and construction details.

g)

Anode cable connection procedures with scaled drawing, including details

of assembly and tools required.

h)

Restrictions for use in adverse environments.

Submittal of the above documents will not be required on repeat orders.

However, if any modifications are made to the previously supplied (approved)
materials, then all relevant data shall be resubmitted to the Saudi Aramco
Subject Matter Expert (SME).
4.6

Labeling
Each anode shall be labeled with the following information on waterproof paper
tag with waterproof ink or using white traffolyte with black letters:

Type of Anode

Anode Dimensions

Date of Manufacture and Heat Number

Purchase Order Number

Manufacturer (anode and cable)

Saudi Aramco Material Number

Manufacturer's Technical Qualifications

Impressed current anodes shall be supplied only by the manufacturers technically prequalified by Saudi Aramco. To qualify, the manufacturer shall have done the following:
a)

Assembled at least ten of the anodes of the type proposed.

b)

Tested at least one of the assembled anodes according to Sections 6.3 and 7, in the
presence of a Saudi Aramco Inspector.

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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

c)

Submitted samples of the individual components of the impressed current anode.

d)

Submitted Test reports, certificates, and detailed fabrication drawings.

These documents shall have sufficient details to satisfy the Manager, Consulting Services
Department of Saudi Aramco or his delegate, that the anode will perform as required.
6

Design
6.1

Anodes
6.1.1

Silicon Iron Anodes

6.1.1.1

Silicon iron anodes shall be of tubular construction, and shall

be designed for center cable connection and shall have the
following composition:
Silicon
Manganese
Carbon
Chromium
Copper
Molybdenum
Iron

6.1.2

14.20 - 14.75%
1.50% maximum
0.75 - 1.15%
3.25 - 5.0%
0.5% maximum
0.2% maximum
Remainder

6.1.1.2

Prepackaged anodes shall have two lifting eyes or

polypropylene rope handles installed at the cable end to allow
for vertical installation.

6.1.1.3

Prepackaged anodes shall have a wooden end cap installed at

the cable end.

6.1.1.4

Prepackaged anodes are to be compressed by the Drop-Lift

method. Compression shall be sufficient to ensure no
additional compression or fill shrinkage/settlement occurs
during transportation.

Platinized Anodes
6.1.2.1

Platinized Anodes shall be rod types and have a platinum

coating with a minimum thickness of 5.0 microns on one of
the following substrates:

solid niobium

niobium clad over copper core

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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

6.1.3

6.1.2.2

Platinum and substrate material thickness shall be certified in

writing.

6.1.2.3

During anode construction the anode shall always be

supported or held with a non-metallic attachment, which will
not scratch or abrade the anode.

Mixed Metal Oxide Anodes

6.1.3.1

Mixed Metal Oxide Anodes shall be constructed of a titanium

base and the external surface shall be covered with a layer of
mixed metal oxides. The thickness of the MMO layer shall
depend on the application environment.

6.1.3.2

For the tubular anode, seamless grade 1 titanium shall be used

as the base material with a wall thickness range of 0.9 to
1.1 mm. Tubular anodes shall have an outside diameter of
25.4 mm.

6.1.3.3

The metal oxide layer shall be applied over the titanium

substrate by thermal decomposition and shall be composed of
oxides of metals from Group IV, V, VIII and IX or a
combination of these groups of the periodic table of elements.
But mainly IrO2 (Iriduim Oxide)/Ta2O5 (Titanium Oxide).
Properties of the mixed metal oxide layer shall include the
following:

6.1.3.4
6.2

a)

A crystalline structure with a density ranging between 6

and 12 grams per cubic cm.

b)

Electrical resistivity in the range of nine (9) to eleven

(11) micro ohm-cm.

All bare titanium surfaces in possible contact with the

electrolyte shall be coated with MMO.

Anode Cables
Anode cables when ordered attached to silicon iron, platinized or mixed metal
oxide anodes (described in paragraphs 6.1.1, 6.1.2 or 6.1.3) shall be specified in
the Purchase Order and shall comply with the requirements of 17-SAMSS-017.

6.3

Anode-to-Cable Connections
6.3.1

The cable connection to the silicon iron anodes shall be designed to

withstand a force strong enough to break the cable or withstand a
minimum pulling force of 350 kg which ever happens first.
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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

6.3.2

Silicon iron anode cables shall be attached to the anode connector by

means of brazing or soldering.

If a compression connector is used, the connection shall be

soldered after compressing.

If a Wedge-Lock (TM) connector is used, soldering or brazing is

not required. The cable shall be dipped in a tinning pot, then
immediately placed in its sleeve and crimped. The cable and the
sleeve connections shall be crimped with a hydraulic tool that
applies a constant 10 to 12 tons of force to each crimp.

A 2 meter long (maximum No.16 AWG) test wire shall be

integrated into the connection of the anode cable to the anode to be
used for testing the quality of the anode connection (see paragraph
7.2 of this specification).

6.3.3

The cable-to-anode encapsulation scheme shall incorporate a moisture

seal designed to last the life of the anode operating at rated current
output.

6.3.4

For silicon iron anodes, a minimum of 1 meter of black semi-flexible,

radiation cross-linked, adhesive coated on the internal diameter, heat
shrinkable polyolefin sleeve (1.5 mm wall thickness minimum after
shrinking) shall be installed over the anode cable at the end connected
to the anode. A minimum of 13 cm of heat shrink tubing shall be
encapsulated inside the anode.
A heat shrinkable, mastic filled 'CAP' will then be installed over the
tubing and the end of the anode.

6.3.5

For platinized anodes, the anode cable shall be connected to the end of
the anode by brazing or soldering. The cable-to-anode connection shall
be protected by a heat shrink sleeve and encapsulation. The sleeve and
encapsulation must be resistant to chlorine gas.
A heat shrinkable, mastic filled 'CAP' will then be installed over the
tubing and the end of the anode.

6.3.6

The mixed metal oxide tubular anodes shall have the anode-to-cable
connection per the manufacturers recommendation, and two sealing
connections; one each end of the tube. The anode-to-cable connection
shall be done without breaking the conductor, maintaining the
electrical continuity of the conductor. There shall be no visible cracks
in the titanium tube after this operation has been completed.
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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

6.3.7

For tubular MMO anode, a Teflon sleeve shall be installed between the
mixed metal oxide tube seal and the cable insulation at each anode end.
The Teflon sleeve shall extend to 25.4mm over the anode end and
300mm from the anode end over the cable.

6.3.8

Anode-to-cable resistance shall not exceed 0.001 ohms.

6.3.9

Requirements for pile mounting of mixed metal oxide tubular anodes

shall be in accordance with Standard Drawing AB-036304.

6.3.10

For the PYRAMID anode, anode-to-cable connection shall be sealed

by O rings, epoxy resin and a cable gland. Cable shall be anchored
by a separate double-seal cable gland.

6.3.11

A heat shrink sleeve shall be installed on the anode cable and the
sleeve should completely cover the cable gland.

Inspection and Factory Tests

7.1

Inspection
The manufacturer shall implement and maintain a quality control program which
shall include clearly defined and documented procedures for the relevant quality
assurance functions. The quality control documents shall be made available to
the Buyer Representative for review and inspection.
The items manufactured to this Specification are also subject to verification by the
Buyer's Inspector per Saudi Aramco Inspection Requirements Form 175-171400
attached to the Purchase Order.

7.2

Testing Anode-to-Cable Connections

7.2.1

The cable to anode resistance of each silicon iron anode shall be tested
as follows:
a)

Before the connection is potted and sealed, pass a DC current of

approximately 40 amperes from the free end of the anode cable to
the bottom end of the anode. Measure the voltage drop from the
end of the test wire to the top (head) of the anode. Calculate the
cable contact resistance by applying equation (1), shown below.
At 40 amps, the measured voltage drop must be less than
40 millivolts.

R (ohms)

Voltage Drop (V)

Applied Current (A)

(1)

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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

17-SAMSS-007
Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

7.3

b)

The resistance of the cable connection shall not exceed

0.001 ohms. A connection resistance higher than 0.001 ohms
shall constitute rejection.

c)

After the contact resistance measurement has been completed, cut

the measurement wire at the head of the anode, and push it down
inside so as not to interfere with the potting and sealing process.

7.2.2

The entire length of non-armored anode cable shall be 100% holiday

free. Testing of the cable insulation shall be completed using a pulsetype holiday detector. Test voltage shall be set to 18,000 D.C. volts.
Any flaws shall constitute rejection.

7.2.3

For the PYRAMID anodes only, the cable to anode connection

resistance shall be tested as follows:
a)

A millivolt meter with a resolution not in excess of 0.1 mV shall

be connected between the anode and the anode-end of the cable
core.

b)

A current of 40 amperes D.C. shall be passed through the anodeto-cable connection from the free end of the cable.

c)

The voltage-drop across the anode-to-cable connection shall, for

each anode, be measured and recorded. An anode-to-cable
voltage drop in excess of 0.04 volts shall constitute a failure and
the assembly shall be rejected.

Testing Metal Oxide Anodes

7.3.1

The manufacturer shall provide a certificate of compliance to

ASTM B338 or DIN STD 17866 for the grade 1 titanium material,
and for meeting the requirements of Section 6.1.3.3 for MMO material
with each order of anodes.

7.3.2

The anode-to-cable seal for tubular MMO anodes shall be tested by the
following procedure:
a)

After the cable is cut to length but before the anode end is sealed,
the annular space between the conductor and the primary
insulation shall be pressurized to 200 kPa gage (2 atmospheres)
with helium gas. The opposite end of the cable is then sniffed
by means of a mass spectroscopy detector to insure that the
helium is passing through the entire length of cable.

b)

After the anodes have been crimped onto the cable, the annular
space between the conductor and the primary insulation shall
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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

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Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

again be pressurized to 200 kPa with helium. Each anode-tocable seal shall be sniffed for helium with a mass spectroscopy
detector. If any helium is detected, the assembly shall be
rejected.
7.3.3

The anode-to-cable seal for PYRAMID anodes shall be tested by the

following procedure:
a)

The anode to spool connections shall be made up incorporating

all the O rings seals and cable gland as detailed in the approved
Drawing(s).

b)

The pneumatic test apparatus as detailed in the approved

Manufacturers Drawing(s) shall be connected to the anode spool
assembly.

c)

The pneumatic test apparatus shall be pressurized to 6

atmospheres.

d)

The anode/spool assembly shall be completely immersed in a

water containment chamber, as detailed in the approved
Manufacturers Drawing(s). Visual examination of the
anode/spool assembly shall determine any evidence of the
emission of air bubbles.

e)

Each anode-to-spool-to-cable seal shall be tested via water

immersion procedure described above. If any evidence of
emission of air bubbles is detected, the assembly shall be rejected.

f)

A certificate of compliance for each anode assembly tested shall

be provided.

Packing and Shipping

The anodes shall be packed on a shock absorbing material such as wood, polyurethane
foam, etc. on a pallet or skid sized to accommodate the total anode size. The packing of
anodes and attached cable shall be suitable for long term outdoor storage. All anode
cables longer than three (3) meters shall be wound on disposable wooden or plastic reels
with the reel securely attached to the pallet or skid.
The length of the pallet or skid assembly shall exceed the anode length to allow
sufficient room for the anode cables or cable reels. Anode cables or cable reels are to
be at the end of each anode when shipping; they shall not be stored on top of the anode.
Anodes and cables/cable reels shall be securely fastened to the pallet or skid to prevent
movement during shipping.
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Document Responsibility: Cathodic Protection Standards Committee

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Issue Date: 31 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2016
Impressed Current Anodes for Cathodic Protection

The final pallet or skid assembly shall allow for an individual anode to be removed
from the pallet or skid without effecting the remaining anodes or anode cables.
Total net anode assembly mass per crate shall not exceed 1360 kg (3000 lb).

31 December 2011

Revision Summary
Revised the Next Planned Update. Reaffirmed the contents of the document, and
reissued with minor changes. Update this materials specification to be in line with the new
RVL process requirement and correct the chemical composition properties of the mixed
metal oxides layer.

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