Statistical Analysis of the Spatial Transmission of Pipeline Failures in an Oil Treatment Station at Sinopec Tahe Oilfield

Abstract

Corrosion failure generally results in pipeline leakages during oil production. This paper systematically investigated the pipeline failure events in an oil treatment station of Tahe oilfield in the last 20 years were to identify the key factors causing localized corrosion of pipeline steel. Obviously, the failure events propagated along the spatial locations of transportation and there was a delay of several months from the oil pipelines to the water pipelines. Intensive failure of oil pipelines in 2012 deteriorated the water chemistry of the production fluids in the downstream pipelines. The spatial transmission of pipeline failures was attributed to the possible ingress of oxygen or other aggressive species during the frequent leakage and maintenance of the pipelines, locally damaging the integrity of the preformed corrosion product layers on pipeline steel. This understanding of pipeline failure based on a historical analysis provides guidance for future pipeline design and maintenance work.