Effect of mercury on corrosion in production wells in Gulf of Thailand

Abstract

The effect of mercury on the corrosion of materials used for tubing in oil and gas production wells was studied. Carbon steel (L80) and 13% chromium stainless steel (13Cr) were selected for study by potentiodynamic polarisation. Simulated produced water, with the composition obtained from the Gulf of Thailand field, was used as a corrosive solution. Temperature kinetically increased the corrosion reaction. Chloride ions and carbon dioxide also enhanced the corrosion. Acidity increased the pitting corrosion of 13Cr and increased the corrosion rate of both 13Cr and L80. A concentration of 3–12 ppm of mercury lowered the current density in the passive region and increased the pitting potential of 13Cr. The corrosion rate of L80 was decreased with small amount of mercury addition. The 13Cr showed lower uniform corrosion rate than the L80 in all conditions of the simulated produced water.