Abstract
To ensure and optimise oil and gas production and whilst maintaining integrity, chemicals are added to avoid hydrate formation, corrosion, scaling and to stimulate production. To be successful on all areas a critical balance of chemistry is required where all aspects need to be considered and no details can be overlooked. Production from maturing fields becomes more complex and requires measures to keep production on a satisfactory level. Reduction of operational costs can be achieved by process optimisation, including changing to wet gas operation. This also includes comingling of streams, which requires a single solution for a wide range of conditions and anticipation on continuously changing process conditions.
Without effective corrosion inhibition Southern North Sea gas producing equipment would encounter severe corrosion. Corrosion inhibition (CI) plays an important role in combating corrosion. CI safeguards process integrity and asset value, directly connected to safe and reliable operations and an ensured environmental integrity.
Due to increased environmental awareness (especially for offshore production) there lies a challenge to implement more environmental friendly "green" corrosion inhibitors (CIs). These "green" CIs have a different chemistry; unfortunately this also affects the effectiveness and persistency of the CI. To introduce these new chemicals in mature production facilities, with high stakes for process safety, a sound process of evaluation with relevant criteria is required.
For an effective implementation a complete re-evaluation is proposed that includes; corrosion assessment, CI validation program, corrosion management, review of chemical injection hardware and a monitoring and inspection strategy. This comprehensive approach can make the implementation of these new "green" CI successful and sustainable.
