The erosion or washing away of the sand/clay covering of a buried subsea pipeline. Scouring caused by sea currents is a serious problem for under. Sea lines. Excessive scouring causes spanning; the hanging of a section of the line one to several feet off bottom. If allowed to go uncorrected the Pipeline welds crack or the pipe ruptures from its unsupported weight. Subsea lines are inspected for scouring and spanning by side-scan sonar devices or by diver inspection.
