Providing Perspective on Corrosion Inhibitor Residual Monitoring in Downhole and Pipeline Chemical Corrosion Mitigation Programs

Abstract Monitoring corrosion in oilfield assets requires a robust and multi-faceted approach to ensure performance of corrosion mitigation programs. A combination of direct methods (inline inspection, ultrasonic testing, visual observation, etc.) and indirect methods (electrical resistance and linear polarization probes, corrosion coupons, etc.) should be employed to understand the short- and long-term corrosivity and protection present in the system. When a continuous corrosion inhibitor program is implemented, corrosion inhibitor residuals (CIR) are a commonly used indirect performance indicator for downhole and pipeline chemical corrosion mitigation programs. The data provided from CIR, while helpful in understanding the concentration present at the point of sampling, is fraught with challenges in obtaining accurate, representative, and actionable data. This paper discusses these challenges and some perspective into interpretation and use of CIR data in monitoring and maintaining an effective corrosion inhibitor program for downhole and pipeline corrosion mitigation.