Designing for Corrosion Control in Surface Production Facilities

Abstract

ABSTRACT In order to design surface production facilities to have the most cost effective service life and meet safety objectives, it is essential to predetermine all aspects of the environment to which the various segments of the system are to be exposed. The design must provide corrosion protection, either by material selection, chemical inhibition, protective coatings and/or impressed electrical currents. In addition, monitoring devices are needed to provide base corrosion rates and to monitor the effectiveness of corrosion inhibition programs. In order to evaluate the environment, the data must include chemical composition, pressures, temperatures, phase, velocities and percent undissolved solids. Chemicals for inhibition must be evaluated in an environment designed, as far as possible, to simulate the actual process conditions. The paper discusses the corrosive environment normally encountered in oil field production operations, and practical approaches to evaluation, monitoring, and control methods.