Advancements in Corrosion Inhibitor Products with Improved Environmental Profiles for Oil and Gas Industry Applications

Abstract The growing environmental concerns and stringent regulations in the oil and gas industry have necessitated the development of corrosion inhibitor products with improved environmental profiles. The focus of this study is on the application of corrosion inhibitor products that comply with current CEFAS regulations in comparison to those that no longer meet those criteria. In comparison with conventional inhibitors, these inhibitors are evaluated for their effectiveness in mitigating corrosion in harsh oil and gas environments, particularly under hydrodynamic, high-pressure, and high-temperature conditions. Static and dynamic corrosion measurement techniques, such as bubble cell, rotating cage autoclave, and weldment tests, were employed to explore the application feasibility of these corrosion inhibitor products in simulated field environments. Various mechanisms through which these inhibitors function was investigated, such as adsorption on metal surfaces, formation of protective layers, and interference with electrochemical reactions. Advanced electrochemical techniques, including linear polarization resistance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic polarization & high-pressure rotating cylinder electrode weldment tests paired with rotating coupon autoclaves and surface characterization methods (such as profilometry), were employed to understand the inhibitors' performance and protective properties. For these corrosion inhibitor product performance experiments, aggressive conditions analogous to North Sea field conditions such as high temperatures, pressures, salinity and shear stress were selected to evaluate the corrosion inhibitor products rigorously. The results demonstrate that newly developed corrosion inhibitor products exhibit comparable, and in some cases superior, inhibition efficiency when compared to conventional inhibitors. While the focus is primarily on corrosion performance, these inhibitors also comply with current CEFAS regulations in the North Sea. The inhibitors were evaluated using conditions based on an existing oil and gas operation, showcasing their practical viability and economic benefits.