The inhibition performance of mono-ethylene glycol on corrosion rate of x-80 grade carbon steel in saturated brine environment.

Abstract

The formation/deposition of hydrate and scale in gas production and transportation pipeline has continue to be a major challenge in the oil and gas industry. Pipeline transport is one of the most efficient, reliable and safer means of transporting petroleum products from the well sites to either the refineries or to the final destinations. Acetic acid (HAc), is formed in the formation water which also present in oil and gas production and transportation processes. Acetic acid aids corrosion in pipelines and in turn aids the formation and deposition of scales which may eventually choke off flow. Most times, Monethylene Glycol (MEG) is added into the pipeline as an antifreeze and anticorrosion agent. Some laboratory experiments have shown that the MEG needs to be separated from unwanted substance such as HAc that are present in the formation water to avoid critical conditions in the pipeline. Internal pipeline corrosion slows and decreases the production of oil and gas when associated with free water and reacts with CO2 and organic acid by lowering the integrity of the pipe. In this study, the effect of Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG) and Acetic acid (HAc) on the corrosion rate of X-80 grade carbon steel in CO2 saturated brine were evaluated at 25oC and 80oC using 3.5% NaCl solution in a semi-circulation flow loop set up. Weight loss and electrochemical measurements using the linear polarization resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscope (EIS) were used in measuring the corrosion rate as a function of HAc and MEG concentrations. The results obtained so far shows an average corrosion rate increases from 0.5 to 1.8 mm/yr at 25oC, and from 1.2 to 3.5 mm/yr at 80oC in the presence of HAc. However, there are decrease in corrosion rate from 1.8 to 0.95 mm/yr and from 3.5 to 1.6mm/yr respectively at 25oC and 80oC on addition of 20% and 80% MEG concentrations to the solution. It is also noted that the charge transfer with the electrochemical measurements (EIS) results is the main corrosion controlling mechanism under the test conditions. The higher temperature led to faster film dissolution and higher corrosion rate in the presence of HAc. The EIS results also indicate that the charge transfer controlled behaviour was as a result of iron carbonate layer accelerated by the addition of different concentrations of MEG to the system. Key words: CO2 corrosion, Carbon steel, MEG, HAc, Inhibition, Environment.