The Problem of Corrosion at Oil and Gas Industry
Corrosion is a big problem in the oil and gas industry. It reaches all stages, since it can appear in the exploration, drilling, production, transportation and refining phases.
All equipments, pipelines, infrastructure and installations –from a well to a refinery- are potentially affected by corrosion.
Corrosion reaches all kind of wells and pipelines, but there are differences. In oil wells, the impact of corrosion in a mature field is different when compared to an offshore well or an unconventional reservoir.
A well stimulation may be done at different levels, having different degrees of corrosion in the well or related infrastructure.
Various organic and inorganic acids, together with surfactants, are used in various methods of well stimulation.
Such well stimulation is usually done with hydrochloric acid, which induces to severe corrosion attacks in tubing and casing.
Other gases such as H2S and CO2 in combination with water, are the main cause of corrosion in oil and gas wells.
Corrosion degrades materials and creates losses of mechanical properties such as hardness, ductility, toughness and impact resistance, among others.
In the pipelines, internal corrosion is one of many possible threats to the pipe. Crude oil is not corrosive by itself but the water it contains creates corrosion. Crude oil –including dilbit- is a non conducting electrolyte.
The water –an electrolyte- is a necessary component of the corrosion cell. When such water comes in contact with a metallic surface, then corrosion takes place.
By the other side, pipelines with slow flow, tend to be more susceptible to corrosion attack than those with high flow or above critical velocity.
ASTM G-205 is an industry guide for evaluating three important crude oil properties that can have an impact on internal corrosion:
- Wettability
- Emulsion-forming tendency
- Effect of crude oil on the corrosiveness of brine
The cost of corrosion is enormous. Only in the US the cost of corrosion is estimated in 3% of the GDP. The Corrosion Cost study developed by NACE shows interesting results.
For instance, the average annual corrosion-related cost is estimated at $ 7 billion to monitor, replace and control the gas transmission pipelines in the United States.
In the oil and gas exploration and production areas, the corrosion cost is about $ 1.4 billion while in the petroleum refining sector, the corrosion cost is about $ 3.7 billion per year.
The Technological Solution
In order to reduce the corrosion attacks in oil and gas wells, as well in another areas of oil and gas industry, there are different solutions.
One of them is the use of corrosion inhibitors which are added during the stimulation period, or when water or fluids are injected into the well.
However, most of these corrosion inhibitors are not green or environmental friendly, since they contains hazardous or toxic chemicals.
Our technological solution is a corrosion inhibitor made from natural plants extracts and polysaccharides.
There are different studies and investigations developed by Aloetrade America LLC and other research centers and universities worldwide, showing the effectiveness of aloe as corrosion inhibitor.
NOCORGREEN FULL™ is a new and unique green product for use as corrosion inhibitor in many operations at oil & gas industry.
It is a green product made with technology and know how from Aloetrade America LLC, manufactured in Mexico by Maken Proyectos Industriales SA de CV and distributed by Aloetrade America at local and foreign markets.
NOCORGREEN WELL™ is a green and eco friendly product for use as corrosion inhibitor in the oil and gas industry. The product is specially designed to inhibit corrosion in oil wells.
For more information about our green corrosion inhibitor please visit the Specific Product Page