Abstract
Macro and microbiological growth can have significant impacts on safe and efficient operations in oil & gas applications, especially in water injection and underground storage systems. Operators must provide protection against both chemical and microbial corrosion to protect assets from degradation and failure. High density polyethylene (HDPE) coatings have been shown to provide long-term corrosion protection for salt, brackish, and brine piping. However, HDPE is susceptible to biodegradation. This study explores the development and testing of a novel HDPE coating containing a unique blend of antimicrobial powder additive engineered to protect against common bacteria and fungi in brine water. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the biological and material performance of the coatings. Results from microbiological testing showed that coatings enhanced with the material additive resisted and deactivated over 70% of bacteria present in the brine water and over 90% of the harmful fungi which causes fouling in pipelines. Testing results indicated that the additive has no significant impact on the mechanical properties or corrosion resistance of the HDPE lining. These results are significant because the additive protects against harmful microbes while maintaining properties of the HDPE system. This technology provides transformative change in prevention methods for on-shore brine pipeline applications.
