Mathematical simulation of the parameters of cathodic protection of underground structures in nonuniform media: Horizontally layered half-space

The main problems arising in mathematical modeling of electric fields generated by the electrochemical protection of underground structures are caused, first of all, by the difficulties met when constructing an adequate model for the real space containing the structure. In order to take into account the nonuniformity of the space, one has to introduce a number of additional boundary conditions, but this can be done only in some special cases. A numerical-analytical method for the calculation of the parameters of cathodic protection of underground structures in a horizontally layered half-space is proposed that allows one to obtain numerical results for a three-dimensional region containing an axially symmetric body. This method can be applied to the calculation of current distribution in the systems of electrochemical protection of a wide variety of axially symmetric underground structures, such as the casing of wells at gas and oil fields, various reservoirs and underground storehouses, industrial metallic structures, etc.