Causes of Increased Corrosion in Oil and Gas Pipelines in the Middle East

Amir Samimi
Young Researchers club, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IRAN
amirsamimi1161@gmail.com

Abstract Transfer tubes of petroleum are extensive network that responsible for
petroleum and gas transference from petroleum field under the sea to platform and
to stores in coast related centers. Occasionally, some part of this network damages,
because of corrosion and result in stop production and also disorder in transfer
and distribution. This matter, in addition to direct cost for corrosion and its
resulting events, that is financial damage, lead to irreparable damages to
environment too. So, it is important to know the factors of making corrosion and
leakage in tubes. In this article, we analyzed the reason of corrosion and leakage of
tube that use for transfer petroleum fro, a field to platform in bed in the Persian
Gulf area. Then we offer some recommendations and solutions for decrease and
prevent from further events in this connection

Key Words Petroleum, Corrosion, Environment, Persian Gulf Area

1 Introduction

External observations: The length of separated tube from tube line in sea bed was almost 24m. As
you consider, there is a deep localized corrosion groove in the floor of tube. The width of this groove
was almost 1 cm and in some part, this groove was covered by thick layer of sediment that separated
by blade of manual cutter from the surface easily. The cooler of this sediment in part of corrosion at
the groove (that consisted 20% of whole area of tube) is orange and dark yellow. Morphology of
observable corrosion in this area includes pitting, mesa attack and flow induced localized corrosion. It
is necessary to say that, there isn't notable corrosion in external surface of tube and evidences show
that corrosion and leakage related to internal surface of tube.

Fig.1: Crevice Corrosion in a Flange

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Fig.2: Fretting on Steel Backing

Fig.3: Galvanic Corrosion

Analysis of corrosion at the internal surface of tube by XRD and XRF methods: In order to
recognition and analysis of corrosion, we take some part of sediment in the place of corrosion on the
floor of tube and test by XRF elemental analysis and XRD structural analysis. Its results have
delivered in table 1.

Table 1: Results of XRF elemental analysis and XRD structural (Analysis of corrosion at the internal
surface of tube)

Analysis method The results of elemental and structural analysis according to intensity
XRF Fe Ca S Sr MO Cl Ba Ni Mn Cu
XRD FeCO3 BaCO3 FeO(OH)

Metallographic of Corrosion Section. In order to study the study the morphology of corrosion in the
floor of tube, some sample of this area prepare and perform metalograohy studies by optical
microscope. It is necessary to say that localized corrosion section in the floor of tube, which is the
same as morphology of corrosion in flow induced localized corrosion type, is in the form of channel
with U section that will offer pictures from different area in the following study. You can consider that
morphology of corrosion in this section is similar to general corrosion. Of course, in some part of this

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rim, you can see corrosion pit with wide shallow pit morphology. At the floor of this channel with U
section, you can see some similarities with rim, although the corrosion pit in the floor is more than one
in rim of channel.

Fig.4: Galvanic Corrosion

Fig.5: Galvanic Corrosion

Fig.6: Internal Pipe Corrosion

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Fig.7: Galvanic Corrosion

3 Conclusion

According to results of experiments and studies, the reason of corrosion and leakage from mentioned
tube is corrosion by carbon dioxide (sweet corrosion). Corrosion production of FeCO3 is the salient
features of this corrosion that shows in the results of XRD analysis (table 1). In this kind, the factor of
carbon dioxide in chemical compound of petroleum production, dissolve in twin water and turn into
H2CO3, so provide the condition for corrosion by acidification.

In this condition, a layer of corrosion production from FeCO3 make in metal surface, that may be
unstable and don't have enough adhesiveness to surface. Discontinuous production of this layer on this
surface lead to localized corrosion by mentioned morphologies. In this studding sample, because of
separation of water phase from floor of tube, corrosion is limited to the floor. Corrosion morphology
include pitting, wide and sharp shallow pit with mesa attack, and corrosion in rim by a long and
narrow channel (flow induced localized corrosion). There are many parameters affecting this kind of
corrosion that refer to them as follow. We should control these factors and prevent from continuity of
corrosion in this line and other transfer line of petroleum at the floor of sea in Persian Gulf or decrease
if it is possible.

These parameters including [1-6]:

1. The content of soluble CO2 and H2S in petroleum production
2. Conditions of operational heat and pressure
3. The amount of water in relation to petroleum in transfer tube
4. Twin water PA in petroleum and kind and the amount of corrosive factors in this water
5. The resistance of tube alloy against this corrosion and life expectancy of this alloy
6. Kind and the amount of additive materials to this petroleum, such as corrosion inhibitors,
buffering agent of PH.

In order to control and presentation from resulting damages of sweet corrosion offer these cases:
1. PH parameters and the amount of Fe in exit flowing of system should measure and control
regularly unit distinguish corrosion changes in operational conditions;
2. The amount of corrosive factors such as CO2, H2S, Chloride, O2 and so on should control and
decrease in chemical comical compound of transfer petroleum by injection of inhibitors.
3. By installation of separator instruments of water, should decrease the amount of water phase in
transferring flowing compound from tube.
4. Anti freezes of glycol and mental should use for prevent from freezing and hydrous solid gas.
5. Heat condition, operational pressure and flowing of system should monitor and control.

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6. Pigging method should use for clean the internal surface of tube from corrosion. In addition,
using intelligent pigging can aware from situation and profile of corrosion in external and
internal surface of tube and make necessary decisions for selection the control method, or
replace that part of tube with severe corrosion before leakage and disorder in production system.
7. Resistant steels against corrosion such as steels contain 13% chromium or duplex stainless steel
should use for alloy production of tube.

The internal of mentioned tube line encounter to corrosion by carbon dioxide (sweet corrosion). Every
three kind of morphology arise from this corrosion include pitting corrosion, mesa attack and flow
induced localized corrosion, considered in corrosion area. Affecting parameters in this corrosion and
prevention methods offer in discussion sector.

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