Biofilm formation and its effects on microbiologically influenced corrosion of carbon steel in oilfield injection water via electrochemical techniques and scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

In this study, changes in the electrochemical conditions of oil fields caused by biofilms with sulfate-reducing bacteria have been studied as they promote localized pitting damage, reservoir souring problems, and many other processes including well plugging that lead to increased production costs. Biofilm formation and its effects on 1020 carbon steel surfaces were evaluated in a discontinuous electrochemical reactor by using a bacterial consortium isolated from the injection water of a Colombian oil field. Sulfide concentration and pH values were observed to decrease, which was consistent with the exponential planktonic sulfate-reducing bacterial growth. The formation of a biofilm that adheres to a porous layer of corrosion products was identified using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The morphology of the films revealed the presence of the biofilm and corrosion product crystals. Open circuit potential presented a negative shift in the potential during the first 24 h in a biotic cell. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a change in the behavior of the resistive zone for both systems, a charge transfer trend in the abiotic cell, and a transformation of the charge transfer process to a diffusive process in the biotic cell after 48 h. The polarization resistance showed its lowest resistivity 74.95 Ω·cm−2 during the first 48 h, while the corrosion rate was estimated as 3.37 mpy. This research contributes to the understanding of corrosion mechanisms in the metal-solution interface via detailed monitoring of biofilm growth.