Novel Corrosion Inhibitor Chemistries for Oxygen Corrosion Mitigation

Abstract Oil and gas production systems are often designed to operate in oxygen-free environments, however oxygen contamination frequently occurs through various pathways including leaks, maintenance activities, and chemical injections. This research evaluates the performance of corrosion inhibitors in oilfield environments with oxygen ingress, a critical concern for asset integrity in hydrocarbon production systems. Electrochemical experiments were conducted to compare the efficacy of novel corrosion inhibitor chemistries against a standard inhibitor under high shear conditions. Rotating Cylinder Electrode (RCE) and High-Pressure, High-Temperature Rotating Cage Autoclave (HPHT-RCA) methodologies were employed to assess corrosion behavior in synthetic brine-oil mixtures at elevated temperatures in CO2 environments. The findings demonstrate that the newly developed inhibitors provide superior protection in systems with oxygen contamination, achieving remarkably low corrosion rates and exceptional protection efficiency at moderate dosage levels. Surface analysis revealed minimal localized attack with significantly reduced pitting depths. In contrast, the standard inhibitor showed moderate uniform corrosion with frequent local attack and substantially deeper pitting. This study offers insights into oxygen-influenced corrosion inhibition mechanisms in oilfield environments, contributing to the advancement of more effective corrosion prevention approaches for systems where oxygen ingress is unavoidable.