Test Methodologies and Field Verification of Corrosion Inhibitors to Address under Deposit Corrosion in Oil and Gas Production Systems

Abstract A research program, suggested by an oil producer was initiated to develop and test corrosion inhibitors having good performance in pipelines suffering from corrosion associated with deposited solids. The program comprised the development of candidate DSTI’s (Deposited Solids Tolerant Inhibitors) using column adsorption tests, which were then subjected to an inhibition performance test, also had to be developed. The oil producer defined its needs and offered pipelines for field verification. A specific inhibitor (designated C) has been identified as a good DSTI, having superior performance over the incumbent inhibitor in the oil producer's sweet pipelines system. The laboratory inhibition performance test developed enables the simultaneous testing of inhibitors for their performance in regular (non solids covered) systems and underneath solids. A field verification program has been scheduled to obtain the final confirmation before full deployment of Inhibitor C in the oil producer’s solids bearing lines. To that end the Field Corrosivity Toolbox has been modified to enable the performance testing of DSTI’s underneath solids.