API RP-14E contains a simple formula for estimating the velocity beyond which accelerated corrosion due to erosion corrosion may occur. This formula is used extensively by the oil and gas industry and does an excellent job in predicting the onset of erosion corrosion under the conditions in which it was intended to apply. So far, however, it has lacked a theoretical basis, and is considered by some to be overly simplistic. The formula has been found to be a reasonable indicator for both the onset of the annular mist flow condition in multi-phase flow in both horizontal and vertical flow, and an indicator of the velocity necessary to remove iron carbonate and iron oxide corrosion product films by a liquid droplet impingement mechanism. This implies that the onset of erosion-corrosion is due to the development of mist flow conditions which causes liquid droplet impingement fatigue of the corrosion product film in uninhibited carbon steel oil and gas well equipment. This interpretation indicates that API-14E can be applied to down-hole situations but should not be used when the system is not corrosive, is not in two phase flow, or contains alloy tubulars.

Subject
Films, Coating removal, Corrosion fatigue, Droplets, Impingement, Sulfide films, Flow velocity, Oxide films, Gas velocity, Liquids, Corrosion products, Impact velocity, Erosion corrosion
© 1991 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1991
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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