Pipeline Corrosion Inhibitor

What Does Pipeline Corrosion Inhibitor Mean?

A pipeline corrosion inhibitor is a chemical compound that halts or slows down the corrosion process in a pipeline. The inhibitor works by reacting with the fluid in the pipe, making it more inert and less likely to corrode the piping. Pipeline corrosion inhibitors can be applied either directly to the well formation or by injecting it at regular intervals in the pipeline using special valves.

Corrosionpedia Explains Pipeline Corrosion Inhibitor

Oil and gas processes and activities, such as drilling and extraction, use aggressive chemicals that can be detrimental to steel pipelines. Furthermore, carbon steel pipes are highly susceptible to corrosion from hydrocarbons containing CO₂ and H₂S gases.

Pipeline corrosion inhibitors generally fall into the following categories:

• Scavengers – These corrosion inhibitors, also known as environmental conditioners, control corrosion by removing aggressive compounds from the medium transported in the pipeline. For example, in fluids where the presence of oxygen is likely to cause corrosion, scavengers can be used to reduce the concentration of dissolved oxygen and minimize the probability of corrosion.
• Interface inhibitors – These pipeline corrosion inhibitors work by controlling pipeline corrosion at the metal/environment interface. Anodic interface inhibitors prevent corrosion by forming passivating films on the surface of the pipeline, thus preventing anodic dissolution of the metal. Cathodic interface inhibitors, on the other hand, decrease the rate of reduction at the cathode. They achieve this by interrupting specific reactions at the cathode end of the corrosion cell.