CO₂ corrosion, commonly known as ‘sweet corrosion’ in the oil and gas industry, presents a significant challenge to facility integrity and operational reliability. This form of corrosion can lead to substantial economic losses through equipment failure, production downtime, and increased maintenance costs.

Understanding the Corrosion Mechanism and its Impact on Oil & Gas Production

The chemistry behind CO₂ corrosion is straightforward yet can have a costly impact. When carbon dioxide dissolves in produced water, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which aggressively attacks carbon steel infrastructure. This process is particularly concerning in wet gas systems, where the combination of CO₂ and water creates an ideal environment for corrosion.

The corrosion rate is influenced by several critical factors:

• Temperature variations
• Operating pressure
• Flow conditions
• Water chemistry
• CO₂ partial pressure

What are the Most Critical Areas of Concern Around Corrosion in Oil & Gas Production?

Inspection and maintenance personnel should pay particular attention to several high-risk areas within their facilities:

Wet Gas Systems

Internal diameter corrosion in wet gas systems presents unique challenges due to the constant exposure to CO₂-saturated fluids. These systems often experience accelerated corrosion rates at points where water accumulates or where flow patterns change.

CO₂ Transportation Pipelines

Pipeline integrity management becomes crucial when transporting CO₂-rich hydrocarbons. The internal surfaces of these pipelines are particularly vulnerable to sweet corrosion, especially in areas where water dropout occurs.

CO₂ Strippers and Reboilers

These process units face severe corrosion challenges due to high CO₂ concentrations and elevated temperatures. The combination of these factors can lead to rapid deterioration of carbon steel components.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Considerations

The growing implementation of CCS technology introduces additional corrosion challenges that require specialized attention and prevention strategies:

CCS Infrastructure Challenges

CCS facilities face unique corrosion risks due to the high concentration and pressure of CO₂ in capture, transport, and storage systems. The presence of impurities in the CO₂ stream, such as water, SOx, NOx, and O2, can significantly accelerate corrosion rates.

Critical CCS Components

Several components require particular attention in CCS operations:

• Absorption towers and regeneration units in capture facilities
• High-pressure CO₂ compression systems
• Long-distance transportation pipelines
• Injection wells and underground storage facilities

 

Surface Protection Solutions

Advanced surface protection technologies offer effective solutions:

1. High Velocity Thermal Spray applications provide excellent protection for large surface areas
2. Internal diameter cladding using specialized alloys offers long-term protection for pipelines.
3. Advanced cladding systems can significantly extend equipment life when properly selected and applied

Why Oil & Gas Production Facilities choose HVTS® for CO₂ corrosion prevention and control

IGS delivers specialized on-site corrosion protection through its proprietary HVTS® cladding technology, featuring engineered NiCrMo alloys specifically designed to combat erosion and corrosion in demanding process environments. IGS global teams deploy this advanced cladding solution during planned maintenance turnarounds at refineries and chemical plants worldwide, providing superior protection against aggressive process stream conditions.

IGS Expertise and Global Presence

With over 40 years of specialized experience in corrosion protection and more than 500 annual projects in the energy sector, IGS has established itself as the leading provider of surface protection solutions for processing operations. Our global network spans 30 countries across 6 continents, with strategically positioned operational hubs that ensure rapid response and consistent service delivery for critical corrosion challenges.

HVTS is proven to protect against CO₂ corrosion, high-temperature sulfidation, and impurities in the CO₂ stream, such as water, SOx, NOx, and O2. Through these capabilities, IGS has become the trusted partner for the world’s leading oil and gas companies seeking to extend equipment life and maintain operational integrity.

Conclusion

Effective management of CO₂ corrosion requires a multi-faceted approach combining material selection, surface protection, and operational controls. By implementing comprehensive prevention strategies and maintaining monitoring programs, facilities can significantly reduce the impact of sweet corrosion on their operations. The investment in proper corrosion prevention and control measures ultimately leads to improved facility reliability, reduced maintenance costs, and enhanced safety performance.

Common corrosion issues in oil and gas production:

• Uniform corrosion – The most common type of corrosion, where metal uniformly loses material
• Pitting corrosion – Localized corrosion that creates small ‘pits’ in the metal
• Crevice corrosion – Occurs in confined spaces where a stagnant solution gathers
• Galvanic corrosion – Occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact with an electrolyte, such as water or CO₂
• Microbiologically-induced Corrosion (MIC) – Caused by bacterial activities that produce waste products that corrode pipes

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