Abstract
This paper describes the corrosion monitoring practices of two crude oil producers, identified as Producer A and Producer B, and has been based on extensive personal experiences at the facilities of both producers. Producer A has an effective program for being able to detect and monitor corrosion, and to implement corrosion control programs. In contrast, Producer B has a limited number of corrosion monitoring points, many of which are incorrectly positioned, such that the coupons or electronic probes are not inserted into the most corrosive fluids passing through the pipeline. Producer A uses the results from corrosion monitoring as the basis for adjusting corrosion inhibitor treatments. In contrast, Producer B continues to use inhibitor injection rates that were based on the original recommendations from the chemical manufacturer many years earlier. Producer A has very few corrosion related leaks, whereas Producer B has a significantly higher number of leaks per year. The quality of the corrosion monitoring programs has an obvious effect upon the ability to identify potentially corrosive conditions, and to implement the appropriate corrosion mitigation programs, which are necessary to reducing the incidents of leaks and maintaining the integrity of the production systems.
