Acid Corrosion Inhibitors The Evolution From Art To Science

Since the popularization of oil well acidizing during the 1930's the specific problem of acid corrosion of tubular goods has been a fertile yet frustrating field for the corrosion chemist. Included in this paper will be a brief discussion of corrosion theory which will serve as a prelude to a discussion of more recent research developments which point to new parameters critical to the understanding and development of environmentally-acceptable organic acid corrosion inhibitors for the deeper and hotter wells of the 70"s. Also included will be a discussion of the various stop-gas measures that have evolved in an attempt to minimize the problems inherent with the common organic inhibitors. These techniques include: "double inhibiting", inhibitor slugs," inhibitor extenders or intensifiers, acid blends, sulfide control additives and inhibitor solubizers. The latest research developments in the areas of inhibitor-to-metal surface area ratios, acid turbulence, fluid cooling effects, and variations in grade grades of tubular goods will be presented as well as a description of the test apparatus and test procedures used in developing a new highly effective organic inhibitor.