Exploring a Diversity of Inhibitor Chemistries to Address Oilfield Corrosion Challenges

Abstract Asset integrity issues related to corrosion during oil and gas production present significant challenges, including the risk of sleaks, operational shutdowns, and expensive repairs. To mitigate these risks, a comprehensive analysis is crucial to determine the optimal approach for corrosion protection. This article delves into the multifaceted challenges of corrosion inhibition in the oil and gas industry, exploring the most effective chemical solutions to meet these demands. The complexities of these challenges span various areas such as sweet and sour corrosion, severe brines, extreme temperature variations, high flow rates, multiphase flow, and diverse compatibility issues. Furthermore, there is an escalating demand for corrosion inhibitors that comply with certain environmental criteria like OSPAR. These features enable their use globally in ecologically sensitive areas, including the offshore regions of West Africa and subsea environments. We examined a total of six corrosion inhibitor chemistries, including two types of imidazolines, two types of phosphate esters, and two versions of a new class of amine–based oligomeric inhibitors. Additionally, we collected representative test data derived from different testing techniques for each of the chemicals studied. Moreover, we explored the potential to combine certain types of inhibitors to further enhance performance, illustrated by realistic examples. This approach was enabled by a wide array of testing capabilities, allowing us to evaluate the effectiveness of various corrosion inhibition methods under diverse conditions. These testing capabilities were crucial in the continuous quest to improve the durability and longevity of assets in the oil and gas industry. The summarized lab results offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of each chemistry type for each field condition or application assessed, providing a solid foundation for our future endeavors.