The Fifth of the Series of YEP AMPP Journals, by Praveena Nanthakumaran, Now a Project Engineer at Alfanar.
AMPP Diary
As a previous Mechanical Engineering Graduate at Worley, I participated in ICorr’s Young Engineers Programme (YEP) 2020, which was sponsored by bp. The YEP 2020 case study was on the failure of titanium piping in an onshore desalination glycol plant, and I was part of the winning team. I celebrated alongside ICorr’s YEP 2022 winners at AMPP’s (Association for Materials Protection and Performance) 2023 Conference and EXPO in Denver, Colorado.
YEP 2020
ICorr’s year-long programme was targeted at young engineers with an interest in the Corrosion industry.
The programme consisted of a series of monthly evening lectures presented by corrosion subject matter experts. Midway through the year, the cohort was divided into teams to work on a real-life case study.
Before the covid pandemic, we had the opportunity to network with like-minded-engineers and researchers in the programme, and also connect with the more senior engineers and mentors. However, in 2020, covid-19 hit, and we moved to virtual sessions. We had to adapt to 100% remote learning and presenting in March 2020. Although these changes were initially perceived as challenges, they soon became the norm. The lectures covered a variety of topics, including but not limited to: Principles of corrosion, Fire protection, Corrosion under insulation, Welding and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Cathodic protection, Integrity management, and Fitness for service.
Our case study was on the failure of Titanium piping in an onshore desalination glycol plant. I was part of a team that included four other types of engineers: a welding specialist, two corrosion engineers, and a civil engineer). Our team mentor was Tasos Kostrivas (McDermott International).
Equipped with the knowledge from our lectures, a dedicated mentor, diverse strengths within the team, and our own eagerness for independent study, we began working on our case study. We were given a process diagram, background information about the facility, activities taking place within it, leakage photographs and where they occurred in the facility process. Outside of our monthly evening lectures, our group met virtually over MS Teams to piece together the information and find the cause of the failures as well as solutions to this real-life problem.
Summarising Our Findings
The primary material of construction in the plant was Titanium Grade 12. The plant saw in Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) that was returning onshore with containments, most of which were salts. These salts were removed within the facility via vacuum distillation and recycled. It was possible that under normal operations within the plant, there were organic acids present. Our overall findings were that initial plant environmental factors lead to the degradation of the incoming MEG.
Contributing environmental conditions were:
Oxygen ingress via a plant equipment in the process,
High temperatures of the process, and
Presence of chlorides.
MEG degradation resulted in a mixture of acids (oxalic acid, acetic acid, and formic acid). Within the plant process, these organic acids lowered the pH. The presence of deposited metals and low pH led to metal dissolution and embrittlement.
We concluded that brittle fracture occurred due to:
Hydrogen absorption,
The sensitive location at the weld, and
The Ti microstructure that was susceptible to cracking. Our Ti microstructure had beta phases, which are known as easy paths for hydrogen transport because they have a relatively loosely packed structure and thus high diffusivity and solubility of hydrogen compared to the alpha phases of Ti Grade 12.
After identifying the mechanisms of corrosion, our team developed a risk assessment that evaluated the hazards, the consequences, and probability of each hazard item. We assigned each item a risk level and assessed whether the risks were acceptable. We then developed mitigating options via the principles of Eliminate Reduce Isolate Control (ERIC). Our final mitigation methods were to minimise oxygen ingress, carry out effective inspections, plan emergency repairs, and implement a robust long-term plan. For emergency repairs, alternative material options such as carbon steel were considered. For long-term plans, Ti was still the preferred material. Ti Grade 7 or Grade 11 were better options than Ti Grade 12 because they are pure alpha grades, have excellent weldability and fabricability, strength, and are the most corrosion-resistant Ti alloys.
AMPP 2023
I joined the winners of YEP 2022 at this year’s AMPP 2023 conference and EXPO, which has been the best experience of my engineering career to date. I was extremely grateful for this opportunity. The enormous size of the organisation and the breath of topics covered by AMPP were a reminder of the importance of the event. It was a very well-organised event. I enjoyed the week of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and networking. Some of the highlights of AMPP for me included the inspector workstations, speaking with students at the poster competition, learning about hydrogen sulphide (H2S), enrolling in the AMPP leadership programme, and, of course, the awards ceremony!
Coatings Inspection Instruments Workshop
This workshop was designed for members who wanted to learn about the basics of instruments and pursue an AMPP Coating Inspector Certification, which has three certification levels, starting with CIP Level 1 as a Basic Coatings Inspector and ending with CIP Level 3 as a Senior Certified Coatings Inspector. The workshop was delivered by Bill Corbett and Lake Barrett from KTA-Tator Inc. They introduced us to various measuring tools, gauges, and visual SSPC Surface Cleanliness Standards (VIS 1 and 3) and how to use them in coating inspection on the shop floor or out in the field. The drop-in workshop had workstations where participants could use the various coating inspection tools or guides to assess samples, such as assessing the quality of abrasive blast blowing and the use of depth micrometres vs. replica tapes. It was a great hands-on session, and even though I am not a Coating Inspector expert, the stations gave me an appreciation for the work that our fellow Coating Inspectors do, the tools that they use to assess equipment, and what they are looking out for when called out.
H2S, H2S Management and the Benefits of Acrolein Over Other H2S Scavengers
Through a series of lectures, I learned about H2S,H2S management, the benefits of acrolein over triazines, and THPs in controlling H2S.
H2S
H2S is a highly corrosive colourless gas that presents problems associated with personal safety, increased corrosion damage (e.g., in pipelines, which can experience hydrogen sulphide stress cracking, hydrogen embrittlement, and pitting corrosion), emissions to the environment, and exposure to people. There are also threshold limits in place on the amount of H2S that a hydrocarbon product can contain before it is sold. If they are off-spec, there can be large OPEX costs. To manage all these different issues, H2S management needs to be in place.
Importance of H2S Management
H2S management in the Oil and Gas (O&G) industry refers to the strategies, practices, and technologies used to monitor, control, and minimise the presence and effects of H2S in hydrocarbon streams.
Issues
Impacting
Environmental and Safety – H2S emission / exposure
OPEX, Liability
Fines for off-spec oil and gas
OPEX
Gas sweetening equipment, towers
CAPEX
Metallurgical upgrade for sour services
CAPEX
Under deposit and localised corrosion, plugged due to iron sulphide
Integrity management, flow assurance
Disposal of spent tower sweetening chemicals
OPEX
Leadership
Employees
Monitor H2S levels throughout the facility and address any issues
Pay attention for signs of H2S
Establish a process for responding to an H2S exposure event
Notify management of any unusual smells or issues with workplace ventilations
Provide H2S training and PPE
Compete H2S training and wear the provided PPE
Identity hazards that could lead to an acclimation of H2S
Follow safety procedures at all times
Both workers and leaders have a responsibility to prevent H2S-related incidents wherever possible. Below are just some actions I learned we can take:
Benefits of Acrolein Over Other H2S Scavengers
A Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) scavenger is a specialised chemical or fuel additive widely used in hydrocarbon and chemical processing facilities. These injected chemicals react selectively with and remove H2S to help meet product and process specifications.
Products treated for H2S include crude oil, fuels, and other refined petroleum products in storage tanks, tanker ships, rail-cars and pipelines.
Triazines and Tetrahydrothiophenes (THPs) are broadly applied as a scavengers in the O&G industry. They have been used for many years and are still very popular. Triazine-based scavengers are a very common chemical and are deemed to be low cost. However, some of their disadvantages are that there are issues with its effectiveness when H2S concentrations are low. They also have low efficiency in water treatment as the Triazines shift the pH of water, causing scaling issues. As a result, Triazine products are often treated with scale inhibitors beforehand to help minimize these scaling issues. THP-based products involve irreversible reactions and require a fairly high treatment dosage, with the minimum effective dosage being 2000 parts per million (ppm). In contrast we learnt that Acrolein does not need very high doses to treat. Acrolein can achieve the same performance as THPs with just 150pp. This is a drastic dosage requirement difference compared to 2000ppm and can be a huge cost saving.
Despite its benefits, Acrolein is not as popular as its aforementioned counterparts in the O&G industry as the market is not comfortable using it due to its high reactivity, hazardous nature, and its requirements for a closed delivery system. A closed delivery system is one in which there are safety and control measures in place to ensure there is no spillage that may cause harm to the environment or personnel. Acrolein has a very unique chemistry, with its two carbon-carbon double bonds situated very close to each other, making it highly reactive with Sulphide ions in water as well as other different in situ liquids/gases. While Acrolein is a hazardous chemical, special safety handling mechanisms are normally in place (such as handling on site and transporting in the supply chain to ensure there is no spillage) to make it safe. Additionally, its reaction by-products are very user friendly and non-hazardous. Acrolein is mostly used we learnt in vessel clean-outs (e.g. water tanks and slop tanks), downhole treatments and surface treatment of frac. ponds.
Other features that we were made aware of include but aren’t limited to:
Oil and water soluble to some degree,
Water and oil soluble byproduct, and
Minimal environmental persistence.
Overall, Acrolein provides an effective alternative to Triazines and THPs as a H2S scavenger, with the potential for lower dosage requirements and more user-friendly reaction by- products. However, its hazardous nature and unique chemistry require special safety measures to be in place to prevent harm to the environment or personnel.
AMPP Student Poster Completion
I was in awe of the young talent that was present at the conference. On the first day of the EXPO opening was the poster competition, where young graduates and PhD students were presenting their months (or years) of hard work and research to the wider AMPP community. There was also a panel of judges making their rounds. It was fantastic to learn directly from enthusiastic young students. Our discussions made me reconsider pursuing another degree! The students were able to condense their months and years of hard work into an easy-to-understand whistle-stop tour of research concept stages through to their findings and further work. I especially enjoyed Menna’s studies on the use of degradable materials and Yuki’s research on End of Life’ Al alloys.
Poster Presentations
Menna Walid was exploring the use of special coatings on degradable implants. Our bodies may need to undergo surgery for internal bone implants when our bone fractures are too complex to fix externally. Menna researched the use of fluoride plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) as a coating for MgCa.
There are two roads we can go down for bone implants:
i) Typical permanent metallic implants, or
ii) biodegradable options.
Current permanent metallic implants pose two great challenges: 1) stress shielding and 2) surgical interventions. Stress shielding occurs because the permanent metallic implants are very stiff (100-200 GPa) compared to the adjacent cancellous bones (10-30 GPa). The difference in stiffness causes early implant loosening, skeleton thinning, and chronic inflammation. The second issue with permanent metallic implants is the need for surgical intervention. Metallic implants need to be removed 1-2 years after the first surgery, which comes with additional personal, medical, and social costs. With a biodegradable implant option, we can remove the need for a surgical intervention and reduce stress-shielding challenges.
Yuki Ando’s explored End of Life (EOL) content in Aluminium (Al) alloy parts to fabricate new Al alloys. In Yuki research, he assessed EOL contents of 0%, 40%, 75%, and 90% for Aural2 (e.g., EOL 40 means 40% EOL material and 60% primary material). In this context, secondary alloy means that the Al alloy contains a secondary resource as a component. Cast Al alloys are widely used in automotive applications because of their strength-to-weight ratio and their ability to promote sustainability. The industry uses about 35–40% of EOL-based Al. However, each time we recycle Al, we can expect impurities such as calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) to be introduced.
Annual Scholarship Awards and EMERGing Leaders Bash
On the 21st March, we took coaches to the Fillmore Auditorium for AMPP’s annual Scholarship Awards and EMERGing Leaders Bash. Fillmore Auditorium is where the great legend Jimi Hendrix performed! Other notable legendary artists who have performed here include Oasis, Blink 182, Ozzy Osbourne, and Cyndi Lauper.
The event kicked off with a bp welcome social, which was then followed by the evening ceremony of recognition and then dancing and singing along to Groove Merchants Band. Award recipients were selected based on their academics and commitment to the corrosion industry. It was great to be able to celebrate amongst the other YEP winners and our AMPP leadership cohort friends. I also recognised several other emerging students from the presentation evening. It was a wonderful night and a great way to let our hair down and jam to the Groove Merchants Band. It was then followed by an after-party at Charlie’s!
AMPP Leadership Programme
I am most grateful to have secured a place on this year’s EMERG AMPP leadership programme alongside 13 others. Our cohort was composed of engineers, managers, and researchers with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, which made our group unique and dynamic as a leadership team. Our first in-person session in Denver gave me an appreciation for the breadth of perspectives across different industries and the similarities in the group’s challenges as leaders.
I especially enjoyed the emotional intelligence workshop delivered by Phil Reynolds. Phil’s session let me reflect on my previous role as Safety and Assurance Package Manager at Atkins on a large nuclear and defence project. For example, I learned how to capitalise on my current strengths and bolster my relationship management skills to foster a culture of collaboration and respect.
Since the conference, we have had two further sessions and started on our group project, “How we can build upon AMPP’s diversity.” I am excited about strategising with my team and making a lasting impact on AMPP.
Conclusion
If you are just starting your career as a young engineer and are interested in corrosion, I highly recommend applying for the ICorr’s YEP. It was an eye-opening experience. I have learned from SMEs in the industry, made fantastic friends along the way, and gained new and exciting opportunities through the programme.
Additionally, the annual AMPP conference is incredibly valuable for knowledge transfer, networking, and potentially finding new clients or services for your company.
Congratulations again to all award recipients and presenters! Thanks once again to all involved in helping me succeed along the way. Here’s to more in 2024!
CAPTIONS:
ICorr Table at AMPP-EMERG prize winners event.
YEP 2022 Winning Team With Praveena Nanthakuma, (Centred with ICorr President).
The Fourth of the Series of YEP-AMPP Journals, by Lee Hunter, Newly Promoted to Commercial Manager at AIM Group
Introduction
I recently had the opportunity to attend the EMERG Leadership programme and the AMPP conference in Denver, Colorado, representing the Institute of Corrosion. Being a part of the successful team for the Young Engineer Program 2023, which was sponsored by bp and was given the incredible opportunity to attend these events.
The EMERG Leadership programme provided me with an excellent platform to enhance my leadership skills and knowledge, and I had the opportunity to interact with other industry leaders and professionals. The AMPP conference was also an incredible experience, where I gained valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations in the corrosion and asset integrity industry.
As a result of my participation in the programme, I was able to network with industry leaders and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the coatings and corrosion industry. This experience has been invaluable in my professional development, and I was excited to continue my learning journey by attending the AMPP Conference and connecting with like-minded professionals in the industry.
EMERG Leadership Training
As an emerging leader myself in the field of coatings and corrosion, I was thrilled to attend the EMERG leadership programme.
One of the highlights of the session was the opportunity to connect with other emerging leaders in the industry. We were divided into small groups to discuss our own experiences with emotional intelligence and to share strategies for developing our skills. It was inspiring to hear from others about their challenges and successes in developing their emotional intelligence, and I felt energised and motivated by the shared sense of purpose and dedication to leadership development.
EMERG provided valuable insights into the practical skills and traits necessary for effective leadership in the coatings and corrosion industry. The emphasis on emotional intelligence was particularly valuable, as it highlighted the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication in building strong relationships with others. I left the session feeling more confident and better equipped to lead my team towards success, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from and connect with other emerging leaders in the industry.
AMPP Conference Denver
Day 1
I then had the pleasure of attending the AMPP (Association for Materials Protection and Performance) conference in Denver, and I must say it was an eye-opening experience. The conference brought together professionals from various fields, including corrosion and coatings, to discuss the latest advancements in the industry.
On the first day of the conference, I attended a Coatings 101 seminar.
During the seminar, we learned about the importance of coatings in protecting metals from corrosion, wear and tear, and other environmental factors that can damage their surfaces. We also learned about the various testing methods used to evaluate the performance of coatings, including visual inspections, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
After the Coatings 101 seminar, I attended an interactive workshop that was an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the different types of coating inspection instruments available and their uses in the industry. We discussed the importance of using the correct instrument for a particular coating, as different coatings require different inspection methods. For example, adhesion testers are used to evaluate the adhesion of coatings to substrates, while surface profile gauges are used to measure the roughness of a surface. Overall, the first day of the AMPP conference was an excellent start to the event. The Coatings 101 seminar and the interactive workshop on coating inspection instruments provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge on coatings, their applications, and testing methods. I left the event feeling inspired and eager to learn more about the coatings industry.
Day 2
On day two of the conference, I had the opportunity to attend a series of informative seminars and attend the opening ceremony of the exhibitor hall. Here is a summary of my experience: The first seminar I attended on day two was on corrosion under insulation (CUI).
During the seminar, I learned about the various factors that contribute to CUI, including the type of insulation used, the operating temperature of the equipment, and the presence of moisture. We discussed how to identify and assess the severity of CUI, as well as the different methods of preventing and mitigating it, including protective coatings and insulation removal and replacement.
Next, I attended a seminar on materials and the cost of corrosion. The seminar focused on the economic impact of corrosion on industry, the different types of corrosion-resistant materials available, and how to select the right material for a particular application. The seminar was led by a materials expert who provided valuable insights into the selection and specification of materials in industry.
After attending the seminars, I made my way to the exhibition hall opening ceremony. The exhibition hall was filled with representatives from coatings and corrosion companies, equipment manufacturers, and service providers, all showcasing their latest products and services. I was impressed by the diversity of the exhibitors and the range of products and services they offered. From coatings and corrosion protection solutions to equipment and instrumentation, the exhibitor hall had something for everyone. I had the opportunity to speak with representatives from various companies and learn about their latest products and services. I also networked with other attendees and exchanged ideas and experiences with them.
Day 3
On the third day of the AMPP conference, I attended several seminars covering a range of topics related to coatings and corrosion. Here’s a recap of my experience: The first seminar I attended was on selecting and managing coating inspectors. The seminar focused on the importance of selecting the right inspector for a particular job, and the key qualities to look for in a coating inspector. The seminar was led by an experienced inspector who shared his insights on the selection and management of coating inspectors.
During the seminar, we learned about the different types of coating inspectors, including AMPP-certified inspectors, and the various criteria that should be considered when selecting an inspector, such as experience, qualifications, and availability. We also discussed the importance of effective communication between the inspector and other stakeholders, such as the contractor and the client.
The second seminar I attended was on the implementation of a corrosion management system in a gold mine based within the Arctic Circle. The seminar focused on the unique challenges of implementing a corrosion management system in a harsh, remote environment, and the strategies and best practices for overcoming these challenges. The seminar was led by a corrosion expert who shared his experiences and insights on the successful implementation of a corrosion management system. The final seminar I attended was on marine coatings and corrosion. The seminar focused on the challenges of protecting marine structures and vessels from corrosion, and the various types of coatings and protection systems available. The seminar was led by a coatings expert who shared his experiences and insights on marine coatings and corrosion protection.
During the seminar, we learned about the various types of marine structures and vessels, and the specific challenges they face in terms of corrosion. We also discussed the different types of coatings and protection systems available, including anti-fouling coatings, cathodic protection, and sacrificial anodes. The seminar provided valuable insights into the selection and application of coatings and protection systems for marine applications.
Awards Ceremony I had the pleasure of attending the EMERG scholarship awards ceremony during the conference, where my fellow ICorr YEP 2022 winners and I were presented with awards for winning the program. It was an incredible experience to be recognised for our efforts and achievements in the coatings and corrosion industry. I was also thrilled to see other award winners being recognised for their significant achievements in their respective fields of study.
The event was only made possible by the generous sponsorship of bp, and I am grateful for their support in recognising the hard work and dedication of emerging professionals in the industry. The evening of entertainment and networking that followed the ceremony was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and learn from their experiences. Overall, it was a truly memorable event, and I feel privileged to have been a part of it.
Day 4
On the fourth and final day of the AMPP conference, I attended two seminars covering a range of topics related to coatings and corrosion.
Here is a recap of my experience:
During the seminar, we learned about the specific challenges faced by the pipeline due to the presence of the HVDC power line, including interference with the pipeline’s cathodic protection system. We also discussed the various field-testing procedures that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the cathodic protection system, including potential measurements and current density mapping. The seminar provided valuable insights into the practical aspects of field testing on a metallic pipeline collocated with a HVDC power line.
The second seminar I attended was on finding the smoking gun: lessons learned from a HDD coating challenge. The seminar focused on a case study involving a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) project, where a coating failure occurred, and the lessons learned from this challenge.
The seminar was led by a coatings expert who shared his experiences and insights on coating failures and the importance of identifying the root cause.
During the seminar, we learned about the specific challenges faced by the HDD project, including the difficulty of coating the pipeline in a challenging environment. We also discussed the various factors that can contribute to coating failures, such as poor surface preparation, inadequate application procedures, and environmental factors. The seminar provided valuable insights into the importance of identifying the root cause of a coating failure, and the strategies and best practices for preventing similar failures in the future.
Overall, I left the conference feeling greatly inspired and motivated to apply the knowledge and insights I had gained to my work, and I look forward to attending future AMPP conferences.
INSTITUTE OF CORROSION – For details of the 2024 YEP Programme.
EMERG Student Outreach Program – AMPP
https://ace.ampp.org/about
AMPP: Association for Materials Protection and Performance
https://www.aimgrp.co.uk/
Lee Hunter Commercial Manager at AIM Group – Providing Turnkey engineering services in design engineering, fabrication, construction, industrial services, and asset integrity.
With Tim Bieri – BP sponsor at the EMERG scholarship awards ceremony.
Ahead of the next edition of the highly successful Young Engineer Programme (YEP), Young ICorr was hosting the YEP announcement event, which took place on 28th September, 2023, at the London Corner City Hotel and was organised by the Young ICorr Industry Representative, Izabela Gajewska, and the Young ICorr Chair, Dr. James McGladdery. The event attendees could learn about the history of YEP from Dr. Anthony Setiadi, who was actively involved in organising previous YEP editions, meet previous YEP participants, including the winners of previous YEP editions, and hear about reflections, learnings, and the approach to solving the programme’s case study from the winner of the 2018 YEP edition and current Chair of the ICorr Corrosion Engineering Division, Dr. Danny Burkle, as well as the winner of the 2020 YEP and the Young ICorr member, Praveena Nanthakumaran. The event provided a great opportunity for networking and finding out more about the YEP 2024 syllabus.
The Institute of Corrosion’s Young Engineer’s Programme is a best-in-class training course aimed at engineers, scientists, and technicians in their early career stages looking to enhance their skills in the field of corrosion.
YEP 2024 will be based in London, UK, although open to all able to travel and consist of monthly evening lectures from January to October. Delegates will also participate in a team-based case study that will test their acquired technical knowledge throughout the programme. The case study will be presented in November as a team in front of a panel of experienced judges with the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the USA.
The objectives of the YEP programme are to:
• Introduce the fundamental topics of corrosion and materials,
• Broaden the participants’ views and knowledge by passing on some of the experiences from the more established members,
• Create a network of younger engineers and establish contact points,
• Facilitate the integration between younger and senior ICorr members, and
• Support young engineers with their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
For more information about the Young Engineer Programme, please head to: www.icorr.org/young_engineer_programme
The second of the series of YEP-AMPP Journals, by Eilidh Macdonald, 2022 YEP Winner.
“ICorr’’s YEP was a fantastic programme to be a part of, with the unforgettable experience of attending the AMPP Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado. I’d highly recommend this programme to any young professionals who are interested in joining the corrosion industry”.
Here is my personal
AMPP diary.
Saturday 18th March 2023
Our trip truly commenced on Saturday, after recovering from the jet lag of the ~12 hour journey to Denver, Colorado. We attended the first (and only in-person) session of the AMPP Members Leadership Development Programme (MLDP). The five of us representing ICorr were joined by nine other participants hailing from various states in the US. The entire day was incredibly useful, with engaging and insightful sessions throughout the day.
In the morning, we were introduced to various members of the AMPP Board of Directors, which showed how interested they are in the next generation of engineers in the industry, just as ICorr is. We covered a variety of topics and gained a more in-depth view of the AMPP business model and strategic plans with Kim Ray and Lauren Blachman. We also participated in a team building activity after becoming familiar with the Drexler-Sibbet team performance model. This was a great way to get involved with other participants and build connections with them. The ‘carpet maze’ required us to work as a team to figure out the correct route to cross the mat without being able to talk to each other within a limited time frame. This exercise was a practical way to teach us certain things that are directly applicable to the problems we face in a professional setting. Often, we just see our end goal, but to achieve it, mistakes will be made, side steps will need to be taken, and sometimes you even need to go backwards—it’s never just a straight route.
In the afternoon, Phil Reynolds took us through a captivating session on Emotional intelligence, and it was interesting to become aware of our personal areas of development and be given meaningful advice on how to improve them. During this introduction session, we were also assigned groups, either relating to ‘Workforce’, ‘Knowledge’ or ‘Advocacy’ which we will continue also received an invitation to the Board of Director’s Opening Reception.
After being at the first session of the AMPP MLDP that day, it was great to be able to recognise some of the faces we had seen throughout the day and get to know the other participants of the programme better.
Sunday 19th March 2023
On Sunday, the conference officially started at the Colorado Convention Centre. The exhibition hall was still being set up and had not been opened at this point. However, there were plenty of presentations and discussions to attend throughout the day.
The day seemed to continue around the theme of coatings for me, which was ideal. The other main presentation I attended this day was focused on Maintenance painting/repairs. It was interesting as it was based on issues faced by the American Department of Defence, which is quite different from the work I do for Subsea 7 in coating systems. It also covered the maintenance and repair of structures in onshore corrosive environments, such as bridges, and it was very good to learn about the typical maintenance programme structure followed in the industry and also the issue of overcoating with incompatible materials. The seminar also briefly covered a small section on 1-coat systems, which I found interesting as I haven’t had any involvement with these before
I soon realised just how busy this conference was when I went to try and go to the surface preparation lectures—there wasn’t even standing room left. Although it meant I missed out on learning more about this topic, I headed to the presentations given on internal corrosion to learn more about this area instead. There was a presentation on the Investigation of Spring Failures in the North Sea. I found it interesting to have a practical case, and throughout the conference I was much more interested in the ‘real-life’ cases compared to the theoretical paper studies that were presented. Although these were also very insightful, the studies based on real scenarios seemed more aligned and applicable to the work I perform.
After a full day of lectures and presentations, we headed along to the opening ceremony of the event, which was sponsored by Carboline. Again, I couldn’t get over the number of people who were attending the conference. It felt great to be surrounded by so many others who are passionate and like-minded about corrosion. Once the opening reception was finished, we went for dinner, and, I think, for all of us, it was our first-time trying Denver style deep-dish pizza. Truly phenomenal – the Americans do it so well.
Monday 20th March 2023
Having found my bearings around the Colorado Convention Centre on Sunday, and now understanding better the format of the lectures the previous day, I was able to take full advantage of what was on offer. I attended various presentations, including Premature Coating Failures, which went through real case studies, and the presenter encouraged the audience to provide their thoughts before going through what had happened. It was very engaging and also covered common failures in different materials and environments. I found the failures in concrete to be interesting, as this is a material that I’ve not had much experience with yet in my career.
The next presentation I attended was ‘Coatings Failures investigations – Finding the Cause. This also went through case studies, but with a different view than the last. It also focused on the importance of ensuring the specifications are always followed correctly, and the responsibilities of the different parties in the scenarios, such as the manufacturers, suppliers, applicators, contractors, and clients.
Later, I attended a presentation on ‘Materials Selection and Cost Control’. It was based on the comparison of several bridges and their associated CAPEX and OPEX costs. It highlighted the superiority of duplex coating systems, even though they had considerably higher CAPEX costs, the maintenance was much lower, resulting in them actually being far cheaper and lasting three times longer than paint systems. Another lecture I attended on Monday was on ‘Internal ICCP of Offshore Wind Monopile Foundations’. I’ve only had a little experience with offshore wind structures, focusing on sacrificial anodes, so it was interesting to learn more about the application of ICCP in this industry. The presenter went through different systems and case studies. It was interesting to understand the evolution of the system in this industry, where closed systems were originally used, Open systems are generally more preferred to allow free flow of water to the internal sections, using current trends to maximise the placement of ‘refreshment’ holes.
In the evening, we attended the AMPP Exhibition Grand Opening. There were 376 exhibitors covering all aspects of the corrosion industry, It was truly amazing to see the enormity and scale of the exhibition and what it had to offer.
After the official Exhibition opening, we went for a lovely dinner with various other senior members of ICorr who had also made the long trip to Denver for the conference. It was great to meet familiar faces that I had only seen before through Virtual Meetings and have a good chat about all things corrosion and otherwise.
Tuesday 21st March 2023
On Tuesday I again set out to attend lectures on different subject matters. My first presentation of the day was, ‘Innovative Approaches for Mitigation and Monitoring of Microbial Induced Corrosion in Seawater’. This highlighted the findings of a technical paper and I found it insightful to learn more about the upcoming and novel approaches being used for this prevalent issue.
I also attended a lecture given on the ‘Alternative CRA Materials for Line Pipe application’. I found it interesting as the speaker discussed challenging the CRA thicknesses provided in standards and doing further testing to make this value less conservative to reduce CRA material, as well as mentioning different CRA materials from the typically seen nickel-based alloys.
Subsequently l attended a presentation on ‘Predicting the enhanced effects of coating deterioration in marine environments’. Again, this was based on a technical paper which was much different to the lectures I had attended in the previous days. It was interesting to see the work being done to try and fully understand certain phenomena witnessed from organic coatings systems. The presenter explained the test result data of the deterioration in detail and highlighted the next steps they would take in experiments.
Later I went to a lecture on ‘The Myths of Insulation Treatments and CUI – What Works and What Doesn’t’. I was very keen to attend this one as my Masters dissertation was based on CUI, and the presentation even had a section on the same test method I had studied. It discussed and compared different insulation systems and their associated pros and cons when it came to CUI, and the importance of corrosion prevention being treated as a complete system approach of the cladding, insulation material and coating. After a full day at the conference it was time to get ready for the EMERG Leaders Awards Ceremony at the Filmore in Denver, sponsored by BP. The night was absolutely fantastic and we were invited on stage to receive our ICorr YEP awards from Stephen. It was also great to celebrate the achievement with the friends we had made on the MDLP earlier in the week, some of whom were also receiving awards that night. The atmosphere, the band, the food (and drinks!) were great. The night was definitely my highlight of the trip.
Wednesday 22nd March 2023
I spent the majority of my Wednesday going around the Exhibition Hall and talking to lots of different stalls. There were many large companies and it was great to talk to their representatives about upcoming technologies and processes. It was an ideal opportunity to ask questions directly and gain the right contacts for questions that may arise in the future. The exhibition hall also had a practical section to show coatings and CP testing and monitoring systems which was great to learn more about by getting to use it and understand it better.
Several people we had met at the MLDP were presenting their posters at the Student Poster Session, so it was great to talk to them in more detail about their specialised areas and thesis projects.
The work they had all put into their posters was extraordinary, and it was good to see so many other young people so interested in the corrosion industry. Unfortunately, none of us were lucky enough to win the Harley Davidson that was up for grabs! In the evening, we met with a few friends made over the course of the week for some final goodbyes over bowling and arcade games.
Thursday 23rd March 2023
Thursday was sadly my final day in Denver, as I was leaving in the afternoon. Denver had an electric feeling to it. AMPP 23 was a truly unforgettable experience with so many amazing memories made with fantastic people.
In the Thursday morning I still had a little time left to cram in a couple of presentations including ‘Susceptibility of martensitic steels to hydrogen embrittlement’. This isn’t an area I was as familiar with but it was interesting to learn which material properties increase the risk of hydrogen embrittlement and why this is the case. Following on from this I attended a presentation called ‘It’s Stainless Steel, we don’t
need to worry…right?’ It was interesting to learn of case studies which magnified the point that management plans need to be implemented regardless.
After the morning sessions, it was time for me to say my goodbyes with the rest of the YEP team over some lunch before I headed to the airport. It was great to meet everyone and have such a valuable experience which has helped me to become a better engineer.
Thank you so much to ICorr and to BP for the opportunity to attend the AMPP Leadership course and Conference, I am incredibly grateful.
AMPP 2023 VISIT – DENVER
The 2022 YEP programme was chaired during the year by Hooman Takhtechian FICorr, and has been previously documented at: https://www.icorr.org/young-engineers-programme-yep-winners-night/ and see also (24) Post | LinkedIn
AMPP 2023 VISIT – DENVER
The five winning YEP delegates listed below all attended the 2023 AMPP exhibition, full conference, and leadership programme. The Institute of Corrosion is extremely grateful to AMPP, and to BP (our key sponsor) for making this all possible. Each of the YEP participants has produced a comprehensive journal, and these will be published in subsequent issues of the magazine (the first appears in this issue), as we move towards the start of the YEP 2024 programme.
YEP delegates at AMPP in 2023 were:
• Christopher Slater
• Eilidh MacDonald
• Jamie Hillier
• Lee Hunter
• Praveena Nanthakumaran, (who was on the winning team for the 2020 YEP competition but was unable to attend at that time)
Rosie Bird (from the 2022 winning team) was unfortunately not able to go to the AMPP event this year but it has been agreed that she will attend AMPP in 2025, alongside the 2024 winning team.
During October 2023, the winning students will make a presentation of their experiences to Aberdeen branch, and this will be available to all ICorr members, as a hybrid event to which AMPP and Young ICorr members will be invited.
AMPP Retiring President
During the AMPP 23 event, a “thank you” plaque was presented to retiring AMPP CEO – Bob Chalker. Bob will be succeeded by Alan Thomas with a 2 month handover until July 2023.
The YEP wishes to express its gratitude to all the AMPP, BP and ICorr management teams, for their support and assistance provided for their 2023 visit, which was a huge success and greatly enjoyed by all. Some of the YEP winners’ comments are extracted here below, and their full journals will be published as space permits
YEP / AMPP – Delegate Feedback
• The YEP programme was a huge success. I developed my technical, communication, leadership, and teamwork skills, to a huge extent. I got to play so many different roles that I simply would not get exposure to during my usual day job as subsea engineer. At times I felt like a leader, a follower, a technical consultant, and a salesman. The value of the programme was really demonstrated to me through the opportunity to play these roles, (Jamie Hillier – Senior Subsea Engineer at Xodus Group, Aberdeen).
• If you are just starting your career as a young engineer and are interested in corrosion, I highly recommend applying for the ICorr’s YEP. It was an eye-opening experience. I have learned from SMEs in the industry, made fantastic friends along the way, and gained new and exciting opportunities through the programme. Additionally, the AMPP conference (and Leadership programme) winner’s prize, is incredibly valuable for knowledge transfer, networking, and potentially finding new clients or services for your company, (Praveena Nanthakumaran – Mechanical Engineering Graduate at Worley, London).
YEP – AMPP Visit prize – Leadership Programme / Conference / Exhibition / Awards
• On arrival at the event, we participated in a team building activity after being familiarised with the Drexler-Sibbet team performance model. This was a great way to get involved with other participants and build connections with them. The ‘carpet maze’ required us to work as a team to figure out the correct route to cross the mat without being able to talk to each other, in a limited time frame. This exercise was a practical way to teach us certain things that are directly applicable to the problems we face in a professional setting. Often, we just see our end goal, but to achieve this, mistakes will be made, side steps will need to be taken, and sometimes you even need to go backwards – it’s never just a straight route! (Eilidh MacDonald – Coatings Engineer at Subsea7, Aberdeen).
• The leadership programme experience left me feeling much more confident to go forward with my leadership and management skills, as I was able to develop effective communication skills. It gave me a good understanding of effective leadership, to make me feel much more confident going ahead as a leader to manage change. Also increasing my experience on how to navigate situations with heightened emotions effectively, being able to read a room and recognising what actions to take, through better emotional intelligence, depending on scenarios faced in professional and personal situations, (Christopher Slater – Project Engineer at STORK, Aberdeen).
AMPP 23 Conference – Participant Feedback
• I realised just how busy this conference was when I tried go to the Surface Preparation lectures – there wasn’t even standing room left! (Eilidh MacDonald – Coatings Engineer at Subsea7, Aberdeen).
• The AMPP seminars provided practical tips and strategies for overcoming challenges, and the opportunity to learn from industry experts was invaluable. I left the conference feeling inspired and motivated to apply the knowledge and insights I
had gained to my work, (Lee Hunter – Operations Manager at
AIM Group, Aberdeen).
AMPP 23 Exhibition – Participant Feedback
• Highlights of the exhibition for me were spending time discussing technologies on the market with various vendors. This included talking through pigging solutions to wax-filled pipelines, retrofit ICCP system solutions, and remote UT monitoring sensors. Being able to discuss these technologies and then bring back learnings from them into projects I’m working on would’ve been worth the trip to Denver alone, (Jamie Hillier – Senior Subsea Engineer at Xodus Group, Aberdeen).
• I was impressed by the diversity of the AMPP exhibitors and the range of products and services they offered. From coatings and corrosion protection solutions to equipment and instrumentation, the exhibitor hall had something for everyone, (Lee Hunter – Operations Manager at AIM Group, Aberdeen).
AMPP 23 Awards – Participant Feedback
• The EMERG Leaders Awards Ceremony at the Filmore in Denver, sponsored by BP was absolutely fantastic, and we were invited on stage to receive our ICorr YEP awards from Stephen Tate. It was also great to celebrate the achievement with the friends we had made on the MDLP earlier in the week, some of whom were also receiving awards that night. The atmosphere, the band, and the food (and drinks!) were great, and the night was definitely my highlight of the trip, (Eilidh MacDonald – Coatings Engineer at Subsea7, Aberdeen).
• The evening of entertainment and networking that followed the ceremony was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and learn from their experiences. Overall, it was a truly memorable event, and I feel privileged to have been a part of it, (Lee Hunter – Operations Manager at AIM Group, Aberdeen).
YEP 2024
We look forward, of course, to the next YEP competition, starting in January 2024, which will be managed by our very successful YICorr division, and take place in London. This 11-month programme provides a great opportunity for young engineers to expand their knowledge in corrosion management and engineering, and to combine it with their experience in energy and other industries.
The programme is designed to offer the following benefits:
1. Attendees will gain practical skills and knowledge on key issues in the energy industries, including Net-Zero technologies.
2. The lectures and workshops will form part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the Institute of Corrosion. Additional attendance at local branch technical meetings will be encouraged where possible.
3. Attendees will develop teamwork and presentation skills from the workshops.
4. CPD points will contribute to participants’ progression to MICorr and Chartership.
5. Excellent opportunities for networking.
6. Increasing the skill level for engineers and decreasing the gap in knowledge between new and senior engineers, overall facilitating a better working environment within the sector.
All students will go through a series of evening lectures and be given a case study. Events will be held once a month from January to November (excluding August). Following is a list of the topics covered during the programme:
• Fundamentals of Corrosion • Cathodic Protection.
• Coatings & Linings
• Corrosion under Insulation/Fire Proofing
• Integrity Management / Fitness for Service
• Materials / Welding • NDT and Corrosion Monitoring
• Production Chemistry / Chemical Treatments
• Presentation Skills, (in the form of ‘How to solve a corrosion case study’ – This will cover the basics to presentation skills anecdotally but importantly teach the participants the keys to problem solving in the corrosion world)
James McGladdery will co-ordinate the next programme on behalf of YICorr, who can be contacted at:
James.McGladdery@uknnl.com, Tel: +44 (0)1946 556 600
Denver Conference Centre, Colorado.
YEP Winners, BP Sponsor and President at AMPP 2023 – (L to R), Praveena Nanthakumaran, Eilidh MacDonald, Jamie Hillier, Timothy Bieri, Stephen Tate, Lee Hunter and Christopher Slater.
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