Buried pipelines are essential for the delivery of potable water around the world. A key cause of leaks and bursts in these pipelines, particularly those fabricated from carbon steel, is the accelerated localized corrosion due to the influence of microbes in soil. Here, studies conducted on soil corrosion of pipelines' external surface both in the field and the laboratory are reviewed with a focus on scientific approaches, particularly the techniques used to determine the action and contribution of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). The review encompasses water pipeline studies, as well as oil and gas pipeline studies with similar corrosion mechanisms but significantly higher risks of failure. Significant insight into how MIC progresses in soil has been obtained. However, several limitations to the current breadth of studies are raised. Suggestions based on techniques from other fields of work are made for future research, including the need for a more systematic methodology for such studies.