Corrosive Wear Behaviors of Carbon Steels in Oil-Water Fluid

Abstract

Carbon steel (CS) is the most common material used in oil production. Based on surface wetting state, the corrosive wear behavior of CS in oil-water fluid was investigated. The surface wetting state of the metal in oil-water fluids with different water cut and flow velocity was measured using a specially constructed device. Wear loss, corrosion loss, and corrosive wear loss of the CS samples in different oil-water fluids were measured by a reciprocating corrosive wear tester. The damage morphology of the CS samples was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the element distribution on the surface was detected by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results indicated that the surface water wetting rate of the metal increased with water cut and decreased with flow velocity in the oil-water fluid. Wear, corrosion, and corrosive wear behavior of the CS was related to the surface wetting film and surface reaction film. In this test range, the synergetic action is negative and chlorine embrittlement occurs in the fluid with high water cut and low velocity. The damage mechanism of the CS was abrasive wear with selective corrosion.