Electrochemical characterization and computational fluid dynamics simulation of flow-accelerated corrosion of X65 steel in a CO2-saturated oilfield formation water

Abstract

The flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) of an X65 pipeline steel was investigated in a CO 2 -saturated formation water by electrochemical measurements and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation on micro-electrodes installed on an impingement jet system. The surface morphology of the electrodes after corrosion test was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Results demonstrated that the role of fluid hydrodynamics in FAC of the steel depends on its effect on the carbonate corrosion scale formed on the electrode surface. An increasing flow velocity and shear stress would thinner, degrade or even remove completely the scale, increasing corrosion of the steel. An oblique impact of fluid would generally result in a high corrosion rate of the steel. The effect of impact angle on corrosion of the steel is attributed to the distribution of fluid flow field and shear stress on the electrode surface. At the normal impact, a low flow velocity and shear stress and thus a low mass transfer rate would be generated at the centric region. Consequently, a compact corrosion scale can be formed on the electrode surface to protect the steel from corrosion. The highest corrosion rate is observed on micro-electrodes that are adjacent to the center, with the highest flow velocity and shear stress. At the oblique impact angles, the fluid flow velocity and shear stress, and the corrosion rate of the micro-electrodes are higher at the side far away from the nozzle than those at the side close to nozzle. The corrosion activity of the steel electrode located at the center of the sample holder generally increases with the decreasing impact angle due to the enhancing shear effect on the corrosion scale.