A flow of crude oil was observed at the periphery of a pipeline located inside the refinery. This pipeline was being supplied with crude oil by 2 feeder pipes of 10″ and 16″ diameter, which ran above-ground throughout the site and, as such, were categorised as internal plant pipes. Cathodic protection was no longer being provided to this zone. The pipelines passed underneath one of the site’s pathways and were protected against external corrosion by applying a pitch. When crude was discovered near this pathway, an excavation was dug nearby to drain the zone and inspect a section of the 16″ pipe lying underground at this spot: once the pitch protection had been removed, corrosion (pinhole sunk to a depth of 5.5 mm) could be observed adjacent to the perforated zone. According to the operator, this situation was caused by the absence of a protective bed of sand around the pipeline: rollers were placed in direct contact with the pipe wall and punctured the pitch protection. Repairs were performed by installing watertight collars on the most heavily damaged zone and then recomposing the pitch protection. The refinery had studied the feasibility of replacing the two pipelines by a single pipe and routing them into a concrete box under the street.