THE INFLUENCE OF CRUDE OILS ONWELL TUBING CORROSION RATES

摘要

An empirical formula derived from two sets of field data on tubing corrosion gives a satisfactorydescription for two different oil fields of the influence on corrosion of the API gravity of the oil and itswatercut. A remarkably good level of agreement was found between predicted corrosion rates using thisformula and field corrosion measurements. It reproduces the general concept that heavier oils are moreprotective than light ones, and that very light oils give hardly any protection at all. It also reflects thelikelihood of various modes of corrosion associated with competitive wetting of the steel by water andoil arising from different modes of water entrainment. The link between API gravity, emulsion stabilityand water wetting of steel by an oil-water mixture is provided by considering the changes in interfacialtensions in the oil-water-steel system.