Acid gas corrosion in oil production, transport and refining

Effluents from oil fields are made up of crude oil and/or natural gas (methane), but also water and acid gases (CO ₂ and H ₂ S): carbon dioxide is an acid gas present in all oil fields in varying quantities, while dihydrogen sulfide is only found in certain fields which, because of this presence, are called "acid fields".

In the presence of liquid water, the dissolution of CO ₂ and H ₂ S generates various corrosion phenomena on steels. Oil drilling and production equipment are primarily affected by this corrosion, but so are units processing these acid gases. Some refining units are also affected. Other agents can also increase the corrosiveness of oil production and refining waters,...