Our Company was faced with the problem of corrosion of distillate wells in the summer of 1942. Serious corrosion in several wellheads in the Opelika field was observed at that time, and the necessity for a solution to the problem was very apparent.
Field experiments on the chemical treatment of distillate wells to reduce rate of corrosive attack were initiated in December, 1942. These experiments have been continued since that time and several conclusions have been reached regarding methods of injection, and also regarding the effects of inhibitors on corrosive attack in this particular field. Although many of the results are entirely negative, the field technique has been improved materially from the early days and some discussion of present day techniques might be in order.
There are three primary problems that must be solved before any chemical treatment is successful in the field. These problems are: (1), what to inject;...
