Mechanism and Control of Long-Term Reference Electrode Failure in Saline Soil Environment of Qaidam

The main production area of Qinghai Oilfield is located in the Qaidam basin, where saline soil is widely distributed with high salt content. In this environment, there is a common problem of excessive drift in the Cu-CuSO₄ long-term reference electrode, which seriously affects the normal operation of the cathodic protection system.Through investigation and analysis, the main problems and failure mechanisms of long-term reference electrodes in saline soil environments were demonstrated. In view of the main factors affecting the drift in saline soil environment, measures such as adding packing materials and setting maintenance devices were formulated, and the field application effect was good.