Cathodic protection can be effectively applied to most steel structures in consistent contact with a corrosive electrolyte. Commonly protected structures include buried pipelines, underground tanks (UST's), aboveground tank bottoms (AST's), well casings, internal surfaces of tanks and treating vessels, and off-shore structures.

• Underground Pipelines are the primary market for cathodic protection. Both sacrificial and impressed current systems are used. Federal and state regulations require cathodic protection for most petroleum or gas pipeline systems.
• Underground Storage Tanks (UST's) used for fuel are now required by EPA to either have functional cathodic protection systems or to be of a non-corrosive material. Both types of systems are widely used.
• Aboveground Storage Tank (AST's) bottoms can be protected from soil-side corrosion with cathodic protection. Most major tank operators include cathodic protection in their corrosion control program. Unique problems involved with tank applications include the difficulty of distributing current uniformly over the tank bottom and monitoring the effectiveness of the systems.
• Production Well Casings usually require impressed current systems due to higher current requirements. The economics of cathodic protection are excellent until production volumes decline and fields near the end of their effective life. This application of cathodic protection is common; but tends to be concentrated in established fields with known corrosion history.
• Internal surfaces of tanks and vessels are commonly protected by cathodic protection systems. With some exceptions, most of these utilize sacrificial anodes. Possible applications range from heater-treaters, heat exchangers, water storage tanks, and hot water heaters.
• Offshore structures such as production platforms, docks, and pipelines are almost always protected with cathodic protection systems. Sacrificial anode systems with aluminum anodes are the most common application.

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