In　this　work,　a　3-dimensional　finite　element　model　was　developed　to　assess　the　double-ellipsoidal　corrosion　defect　on　an　X100　steel　pipe　exposed　to　a　near-neutral　pH　solution,　where　the　double-ellipsoidal　defect　is　more　representative　than　the　usually　used　ellipsoid　of　the　realistic　defects　generated　on　the　pipelines.　Results　confirm　that　the　axial　lengths　of　the　two　ellipsoidal　defects　affect　the　local　stress　and　anodic　current　density　distributions,　and　the　effect　depends　on　the　inclination　of　the　defect　on　the　pipeline.　When　the　primary　axis　of　the　corrosion　defect　is　perpendicular　to　the　axial　direction　of　the　pipeline,　the　maximum　stress　and　anodic　current　density　happen　at　the　defect＇s　deepest　site,　which　is　not　necessarily　the　defect　center.　The　reduced　ratio　of　the　axial　lengths　of　the　two　ellipsoids,　i.e.,　the　increased　difference　of　the　axial　lengths,　remarkably　increases　the　local　stress　concentration　and　anodic　current　density　at　the　deepest　site　of　the　defect,　making　it　the　location　of　the　fastest　corrosion　growth.　When　the　corrosion　defect　is　parallel　to　the　axial　direction　of　the　pipeline,　the　maximum　stress　and　anodic　current　density　is　always　located　at　the　center　of　the　defect.　The　reduction　in　the　axial　length　ratio　does　not　obviously　affect　the　stress　and　anodic　current　density.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd