Dead Legs

Definitions
Components of a piping system that normally have little or no significant flow

Examples
Blanked (blinded) branches, lines with normally closed block valves, lines with one end
blanked, pressurized dummy support legs, stagnant control valve bypass piping, spare pump
piping, level bridles, pressure relieving device inlet and outlet header piping, pump trim
bypass lines, high-point vents, sample points, drains, bleeders, and instrument connections.
.Dead legs also include piping that is no longer in use but still connected to the process

Problems
1. The accumulation of contaminated water
2. solid materials,
3. different temperatures from the main line or
4. The accumulation concentration of corrosive species (e.g. ammonium salts, organic
acids, hydrogen sulfide and acidic deposits).
5. Water can collect in dead-legs that can freeze in colder environments resulting in pipe
rupture.
6. In hot piping systems, the high point area can corrode due to convective currents set
up in the dead-leg
7. Tower overhead systems and hydro-treater units where ammonium salts are present,
the corrosion can occur in the area of the dead-leg where the metal is at the salting or
dew-point temperature

Inspection
-

Corrosion than active piping circuits. Dead legs that are part of primary piping
systems should be considered at greater risk because of the inability to valve them off
in the event of a leak and the higher potential consequence of a large leak.
Dead legs or low points are typically identified and documented in the inspection
records and on inspection ISO's
Dead legs may be combined into one circuit if their anticipated damage mechanisms
and corrosion rates are similar.
The inspector should monitor wall thickness on selected dead-legs, including both the
stagnant end and at the connection to an active line

CMLs
-

Corrosion specialists should be consulted for placement of CMLs on dead legs

because of their potential for localized corrosion, especially with regard to accelerated
corrosion above and below liquid interfaces.
Inspections of horizontal dead legs that may not be liquid full should have
examination points in all four quadrants of any CMLs.

NDE
-

Infrared thermography may be useful for locating liquid interfaces in dead legs.
inspections should include profile radiography on small diameter dead legs, such as
vents and drains
Scanning UT or RT on larger diameter dead legs.
EMAT and PEC
Profile RT should be employed for dead legs that may be susceptible to fouling
deposits that could cause under deposit corrosion or other integrity problems (e.g.
fouling in relief lines).
Dead legs that may collect water and be susceptible to freezing from external
ambient conditions should be adequately insulated and heat traced for such cases.