Pitting Corrosion by Water Flood Brines^⋆ Available to Purchase

Serious pitting corrosion has been experienced in several closed system water floods in secondary recovery operation in oil fields. A laboratory test method was developed which rapidly reveals pitting tendencies in samples of water flood brines. Using this method, it was shown that trace amounts of oxygen are responsible for the pitting in these water floods, and that corrosion can be prevented by adding an oxygen scavenger such as sodium sulfite. Relatively low concentrations of corrosion inhibitor are adequate when oxygen is completely removed. In addition, a low cost, rapid response test probe for field use has been developed to aid in monitoring mitigation treatments. 3.2.2, 4.6.9