Investigation of Pipelines' Failure Problem of Elshabab Pumping Stations

The east Delta horizontal expansion reclamation project is one of the Egyptian reclamation projects which was implemented in 1981. The project area is approximately equal to 366,500 Feddans. It's located in Ismalia Governorate at kilo 96.5 Cairo-Ismalia road. The irrigation system in this project depends on pumping stations at the right bank of Ismalia Canal through pipelines. The pipelines were subjected to failure problems at different positions. This paper studies the causes of this failure and the different factors affecting them. Technical data including the material of pipelines and operating conditions were collected. Water and soil samples were extracted from the studying area where a complete analysis was performed. This research concluded that, water table, soil resistivity, chlorides contents, electrical conductivity, potential drop, pH, TDS, calcium carbonates and non homogeneity of the soil increase the corrosion rate. Also, the electro-magnetic field produced from the presence of medium and high voltage transmission lines, the improper installation of some parts of the pipelines and the adverse environmental conditions are the main factors which speed up the corrosion rate. This paper recommended that, a good drainage system should be carried out to reduce the water table, replacing and upgrading the pipelines and installing cathodic protection system to overcome the failure problem. A protection and monitoring system was designed for safety and reliability of the project.