There is little experience of buried Stainless Steel (SS), thus the available technical literature is very scarce, but with some cases indicating premature failures of this type of installations. A general view of
factors influencing SS corrosion is presented. The case of buffed SS pipes in service stations for natural vehicle gas in Venezuela, where the pipes were connected without isolation to compressors and termNate in manholes at the foot of the gas dispensers is discussed. Structure to soil potential readings are presented, indicating presence of different bimetallic pairs between SS, galvanized steel, copper of the grounds and steel in reinforced concrete. A case history is presented for uncoated type 304L SS pipelines, transporting hot water (50 to 65 °C) in a sewage water treatment plant in Spain between heating facilities and heat exchangers. Severe external crevice corrosion cells developed due to different aeration, improper backfill selection and bad practice trench infilling. According to the cases analyzed and data available in literature, some recommendations are given for preventing corrosion of buried SS, if it is necessary to use this type of material in underground service.
Keywords: buried, corrosion, pipelines, stainless steel.