Inhibition and Promotion of Hydrolysis of Chloride Salts in Model Crude Oil and Heavy Oil

The interactions of chloride salts with naphthenic acid and inhibitors during exposure to steam at 100–350°C were investigated in order to understand the release of hydrochloric acid in crude units. Naphthenic acid promoted the release of chlorine from calcium and sodium chlorides by a factor of up to 30 times, forming metal naphthenates in solution. Mitigation of the hydrolysis reactions was achieved with the use of chemical additives in both a model oil and in a Canadian heavy oil.