Numerical Simulation Design and Optimization of Regional Cathodic Protection in a Large Oil and Gas Station

Rong Wang¹Jiqing Luo¹Sha He¹Weilin Deng¹Yonggang Deng¹Qingxian Yang¹Peng Hu¹Xurui Shen¹Tiansiyu Gan^2*

• ¹China National Petroleum Corp Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Co Ltd, Chengdu, China
• ²Changzhou University, Changzhou, China

With increasing attention from both national authorities and the oil and gas industry to corrosion protection, research into regional cathodic protection (CP) design and optimization has become essential for ensuring the safe operation of large oil and gas stations. In this study, a representative large station was selected for detailed investigation, including the collection of its basic information and operational conditions. Environmental medium and electrochemical tests were carried out to determine the most suitable anode type for the site. Based on the test results, a numerical simulation model of a deep well anode CP system was developed to support regional CP design and optimization. The simulation process produced optimized design parameters, such as the number and spatial arrangement of deep well anodes, along with their required output current. Using these results, a practical CP scheme tailored for large oil and gas stations was proposed. The optimized configuration, refined over six iterative simulations, successfully achieved the required CP potential distribution while enhancing uniformity across the protected region. This study addresses several limitations in traditional CP design approaches, including inadequate optimization of anode layouts and insufficient consideration of current shielding effects. By overcoming these issues, it provides both theoretical insights and practical strategies to guide regional CP engineering more effectively.