Corrosion Control In The Oil & Gas Industry

Environmental factors influencing corrosion

The rate at which corrosion takes place depends on several environmental factors. These include, but not limited to:

Temperature

Steel and other metals corrode at faster rates at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. As a result, under-deck areas and regions adjacent to the engine room, or to heated cargo tanks, will tend to corrode faster or preferentially.

Acidity & Alkalinity

Un neutral seawater, the pH is around 7.5 which means that the hydrogen ions (acid) and hydroxyl ions (alkali) are almost in balance. Under such circumstances, the reaction that balances the iron dissolution is the reduction of dissolved oxygen to form hydroxyl ions. If however the environment becomes more acidic and the pH falls closer to 1, then there is a greater quantity of hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions present in the solution. As both the hydrogen ions and the hydrogen gas can diffuse very rapidly, the steel can corrode faster.

Electrochemical potential

Every metal takes up a specific electrochemical potential when immersed in a conducting liquid. This potential is called the half-cell potential as it can only be measured by comparing it to another known reference potential produced by a reference electrode. The potential that a metal takes up in a solution can determine if and how fast it will corrode.

Chloride ions

Chloride ions are usually the most destructive with sulfate and other sulfur-containing ions also presenting major problems. Chloride ions have a destructive effect on the protective properties of any rusts produced by preventing the formation of the more protective, densely packed oxides.

Conductivity

Corrosion will not occur in distilled water and the rate of corrosion will increase as the conductivity increases due to the presence of more ions in the solution. The corrosion rate of steel reaches a maximum close to the normal ionic content of seawater.

Management of corrosion

Corrosion management is a systematic, proactive, continuous, ongoing, technically sound, and financially viable process of ensuring that the people, infrastructure, and environment are safe from corrosion. The steps of corrosion management include:

• • Assessing the applicable corrosion threat mechanisms
• • Selecting and applying appropriate prevention and mitigation control measures
• • Monitoring equipment and conditions to determine whether the control measures are effective or whether adjustments are required

The key interest of owners and managers of oil and gas facilities in terms of prolonging their lifespan is to take away corrosion in other to continue to enjoy the integrity and value of their steel structure. In other to do this, contractors, suppliers, and technicians usually engage in this process.

Fortunately, wrong materials are sometimes deployed to carry out these activities. This results in a spark that can cause an inferno in the facility, destroying life and properties. In other to avert this, it becomes the responsibility of the facility owners, managers, and safety personnel to pay attention to the entire process to ensure that contractors, suppliers, and technicians deploy the right materials during these activities. To continue to safeguard the safety of their investment and personnel.

For effective corrosion control, and safety of facility and personnel, use Nipplestar 100% non-spark tools and pneumatic machines. Made of brass, copper, and aluminum alloy to guarantee zero sparks. Hence, saving you production downtime and heavy investment in corrosion control campaigns. As it can be used to attack developing corrosion during your production time and work against such corrosion expansion in your facility.

Simultaneously taking away corrosion while production is ongoing without interruption to your production process.