The cost by power quantity necessary for cathodic protection on buried steel pipelines has
been increased quickly with the years. Cathodic protection has been applied for many years as
one the best method to prevent the corrosion in systems which transported hydrocarbon. It is
widely accepted that the necessary potential to prevent the corrosion is probably close to -850
mV, this with respect to a saturated copper/copper sulfate reference electrode. However, in
some situations, such as the sulfurous presence, bacteria, high temperatures, sour
atmospheres, and dissimilar metals, the criterion of -850 mV is not sufficient. In this
investigation, studies of the corrosion on steels with different protection potentials (-850, -650
and -1100 mV) have been carried out. The used electrolytes were simulated soils (carbonatebicarbonate
solution) and natural soils. Electrochemical techniques of weight lost and
polarization resistance were carrying out. The obtained results showed that the optimum
potential is -850 mV for both steels. The polarization curves showed low corrosion rates when
the potential to -850 mV was used. Thereby, the used potentials to -650 and -1100 mV
increased the corrosion rates.
Keywords: Cathodic protection, Steels, Soil environment, Polarization curves, Corrosion
behavior.