Anodes for the world's deepest pipeline passage (-1,400 m)

Challenge

An 80 km pipeline running from Turkey to Northern Cyprus required offshore cathodic protection at depths reaching 1,400 metres below the water surface, among the deepest pipeline passages in the world. Anode design for shallow coastal pipelines is a routine calculation, but at this depth the surrounding pressure, the reduced access for installation and inspection, and the sheer length of service life expected from an underwater pipeline all raise the engineering stakes: an anode system installed at 1,400 metres cannot be easily revisited or replaced if it underperforms.

Approach

YEKE carried out the anode calculation and production to the DNV RP-B401 offshore standard, the reference standard for sacrificial anode design on marine and offshore structures, scaling the calculation to the pipeline's depth profile and expected service life rather than a standard shallow-water case. The anodes were manufactured and delivered as a complete set for the deep-water passage of the pipeline.

Outcome

Standard-compliant offshore anodes were delivered for one of the world's deepest pipeline passages, giving the 80 km Turkey to Northern Cyprus pipeline cathodic protection engineered specifically for its depth rather than adapted from a shallower reference design.

Key facts

Pipeline: 80 km, Turkey to Northern Cyprus
Depth: reaching 1,400 m below the water surface
Standard applied: DNV RP-B401
Scope: anode calculation and production
Service: marine equipment engineering

Frequently asked questions

What standard governs anode design for deep offshore pipelines?+

DNV RP-B401 is the reference offshore standard for sacrificial anode design; YEKE applied it to this pipeline's 1,400 m depth profile.

Why is anode design harder at 1,400 metres than in shallow water?+

At that depth the anode system cannot be easily revisited or replaced, so the calculation has to account for the pipeline's full expected service life and depth-specific conditions from the outset.