It has been known for a number of years that corrosion problems occur in the operation of sweet oil wells. General recognition of this fact has been brought about recently as a result of concerted efforts of the NACE TP-1 Committee. It is the purpose of this paper to summarize the present understanding of sweet oil well corrosion problems and to discuss means of detection and control. The greater part of the data which support the views given in the paper have been collected by the TP-1C Sub-committee on sweet oil well corrosion and by various individuals associated with the TP-1 Committee work.
It has been established that two distinct types of corrosion occur in sweet oil wells. One type, which has been known as “high pressure corrosion,” occurs in wells producing as little as 0.1 percent water. The other type usually occurs in lower pressure wells and is related to a critical percentage of water production. This paper considers both types of sweet oil well corrosion with regard to the causative agents, controlling physical factors, statistics of occurrence and severity and control measures. Emphasis is placed on the most recent developments in the studies of “low pressure” or water dependent type of sweet oil well corrosion.
