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Evaluations in Simulated Service Environments
Investigations of corrosion phenomena often require simulation of service environments. InterCorr has numerous specialized autoclaves and flow loops for simulation of corrosive environments, including mixed phase investigations with pressurized gases such as H2S, CO2 and CH4 combined with field specific mixed brines and liquid hydrocarbons. InterCorr custom equipment provides capabilities ranging from 0.5 to 20 liters at 230 C (450 F) and pressures up to 138 MPa (20,000 psi).
Clients Benefit from Experience
Water composition, gas content, presence of hydrocarbons, solution pH, pressure, temperature and others must be taken into consideration to accurately simulate service environments in the laboratory. InterCorr specialists have tremendous experience in the review and design of test variables to accurately simulate client specific service environments. Environments simulated at InterCorr have included those from the oil and gas, petrochemical, refining, pipeline, chemical processing, electric power, transportation, food processing, pulp and paper, biomedical and various other industries.
Effects of Oxygen
One of the most important and universally applicable situations that must be evaluated when conducting laboratory testing in simulated service environments is producing a reasonable representation of the level of deaeration or aeration found in the actual environment. Corrosiveness can change dramatically with oxygen content. Oxygen effects can be seen in applications such as seawater injection, the use of heavy brine completion fluids in oilfield operations and desalination. The corrosion rate of steel increases an order of magnitude from 10 to 100 ppb oxygen. Hence, it takes very low levels of oxygen contamination, about 1% of normal atmospheric saturation levels, to greatly accelerate corrosion.
Accurate Environment Simulations
Another important consideration which must be incorporated into an accurate environmental simulation is the need for replenishment. For instance, in cases where a low H2S partial pressure is desired, special care and procedures are required to maintain the intended levels and severity of the test environment. The ease of maintaining the appropriate H2S partial pressure depends directly on the corrosion rate of the material being evaluated, specimen surface area to solution volume ratio and physical amount of H2S available for consumption.
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E-mail: inquiry@intercorr.com
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