Weight Loss Corrosion in Sour Environment: From Facts to Leading Parameters and Mechanisms

This paper is a follow-up to a 1st review of field experience presented in 2006 and dealing with weight loss corrosion in sour oil and gas production facilities. It is exclusively dedicated to the question of corrosion prediction in those sour conditions. The actual contribution of all commonly acknowledged parameters of this corrosion is first analysed. This analysis, carried out with reference to a much larger amount of field experience than in 2006, allows discriminating the main effects from secondary ones. Preliminary corrosion mechanisms consistent with these findings are then proposed, as well as possible ways forward to prediction criteria. This review is intended as a 2^nd step to define a set of empirical prediction criteria for sour weight loss corrosion. It also highlights the main lacks of knowledge and understanding which should deserve deeper investigations from the scientific community.