Abstract
Understanding corrosion inhibitor deliverability is a significant component of a robust corrosion inhibitor (CI) management program. Many oil and gas companies require measurement of the residual CI concentration downstream of the injection point. Four significant components of a robust corrosion management program are 1) residual measurements down stream of injection, 2) tank level monitoring, 3) corrosion rate monitoring with techniques such as electrical resistance (ER) probes, linear polarization resistance (LPR) probes, and weight loss coupons, and 4) monitoring for microbial growth. While tank level monitoring, corrosion rate monitoring, and microbial monitoring are relatively well established, the literature is filled with accounts of CI residual failures and challenges. The task of measuring parts per million levels of a CI in a complicated matrix of potentially interfering sources from oilfield crudes and complex brines is not a trivial task. This publication describes how one field implemented solid phase extraction (SPE) to turn an error prone random residual measurement into a reliable means of supporting a robust corrosion management model. Herein is described the procedure and equipment for accurately detecting amine-based CIs as well as field residual data which provided information leading to process adjustments and improvements.
