A low-cost method of reducing internal casing corrosion in sour oil wells is needed. Results of laboratory weight loss tests suggest that treatment of the inside of the casing with an oil-inhibitor mixture may be a feasible solution. Results of other laboratory tests show that the weight of a paraffin-oil-inhibitor mixture adhering to a steel coupon is several times that of the film deposited from an oil-inhibitor mixture alone. Preliminary results of a field test on two wells showed that rapid injection of several barrels of an oil-inhibitor mixture into the tubing-casing annulus gave complete coverage of the outside of the tubing in the gas space and that the film remained intact for at least six months. It is probable that the inside of the casing in the gas space also was completely covered by the oil-inhibitor mixture.
Internal Casing Corrosion in Sour Oil Wells★ Available to Purchase
J. A. CALDWELL—Senior research engineer for Humble Oil and Refining Company, Houston. He received a BA in mathematics from Henderson State Teachers College, Arkadelphia, Ark. and a MS in physics from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Mr. Caldwell has worked on corrosion problems since 1945. A member of NACE since 1946, he is chairman of Unit Committee T-1D on Sour Oil Well Corrosion and a member of several other NACE technical committees.
M. L. LYTLE—Research engineer for Humble Oil and Refining Company, Houston. She has been engaged in development and screening of inhibitors for use in sour-crude wells, and a study of corrosion by anaerobic bacteria. Mrs. Lytle received BA and MA degrees from Rice Institute. She has been a member of NACE since 1953.
