Simulation of the Modes of Medium Flow Movement through a Gas Pipeline during Corrosion Tests

Abstract

Elevated concentrations of corrosive carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide in gas and gas condensate both produced and transported through pipelines lead to serious corrosion damage to the internal surfaces of steel infrastructure facilities. The paper presents the results of studying the corrosive effect of the medium flow along the lower component of the gas pipeline, which can exhibit a dynamic, intermittent, or static character. During testing, the effect of both dynamic conditions of the medium flow on the U-shaped cell and static conditions of the permanent impact of the aqueous phase on the pipeline wall during the bubble test was evaluated. Modeling of variable wetting conditions inside the gas pipeline showed that such conditions are typical and occur upon production and transportation of raw gas to the places of gas processing and purification. We have simulated dangerous operational factors that occur inside the gas pipeline: the composition of the aquatic environment, temperature, and the content of corrosive gases. When determining the resistance of steels to local forms of corrosion (pitting, wide and shallow corrosion pits), we revealed that the rate of developing local and general corrosion of steel in aggressive carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide conditions can reach 2–3 mm/year. In addition, it has been shown that the use of corrosion inhibitors for protecting the equipment and pipelines of gas facilities can effectively prevent the occurrence of internal corrosion processes. The results obtained can be used in assessing the corrosion activity of operating media and selecting the most proven corrosion inhibitors for pilot testing at gas fields.