Insights into the multiple applications of modified polyacrylamide as oilfield corrosion inhibitor and water phase tackifier

Abstract

In order to obtain a multifunctional oilfield agent with both corrosion inhibition and oil displacement functions, a polymer with benzene ring structures is synthesized based on polyacrylamide (PAM) and used as inhibitor for the first time. Methods including electrochemistry, weight loss and theoretical calculations are used to study the inhibition effect for P110 steel in 1.0 M HCl. The experimental results show that the modified polymer poly-(Z)-N-benzylidenepropionamide (PBAM) has excellent inhibition effects, and the maximum efficiency can reach 90.62% in impedance spectroscopy tests. The benzene ring structure added in the modified polymer provides π electrons for the adsorption of inhibitor on metal surface, strengthens the adsorption, and thus brings a better corrosion inhibition effect. In addition to the corrosion inhibition performance, the viscosity-increasing effect of PBAM is evaluated. The results show that the addition of benzene ring not only enhances the corrosion inhibition effect, but also brings temperature resistance to the polymer. However, the salt tolerance of the polymer is affected, the synthesized PBAM which viscosity can above 500 mPa s at 140 °C is suitable for high temperature and low salinity environment. The modified polyacrylamide has satisfactory corrosion inhibition and oil displacement performance, which provides a new idea for the development of oilfield chemistry.