Paper: Corrosion Problems in Packer Fluids

Most corrosion problems in packer fluids occur from small concentrations of materials unintentionally added to the packer fluid or from foreign materials that contaminate the fluid during or after its placement. Bacterial growth, as well as oxygen saturation, can be responsible for corrosion in mus systems. Oxygen and sour gas contamination are the most common corrosive agents in brines, while oil gives the most trouble-free system from a corrosion standpoint. Consideration of a few corrosion fundamentals will permit the engineer to make the choice of a chemical treatment for a given packer fluid or choose a packer fluid which will give the most protection to casing and tubing. Special fluids and related dead space corrosion problems are briefly considered.