1. n. [Production Logging]

The loss of material on the inside or outside of a casing or tubing due to corrosion. Monitoring metal loss in situ helps determine when the pipe may be at risk for leaking or failure. Metal loss is determined by comparing casing or tubing thickness measured by electromagnetic, acoustic resonance, or mechanical methods with either an earlier measurement or an assumed value.

Synonyms: wall loss

Antonyms: metal gain

See: casing-inspection log,  electromagnetic thickness,  multifinger caliper,  ultrasonic caliper