Corrosion Caractaristics of
Corrosion Caractaristics of
Corrosion Caractaristics of
Related Enviroment.
M.A. Bodude.
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of
Lagos,Akoka, Yaba, Nigeria
E-mail: muideenbodude @ yahoo.com.
ABSTRACT
Due to the incessant explosion of oil and gas pipelines attributed to corrosion of
the pipeline material and the environmental problems associated with such
explosion, this work investigates the corrosion behaviours of API 5LX60 steel
used in oil and gas transportation pipelines in chloride, sulfide and carbonate
ions media. API 5LX60 steel samples were immersed completely in different
concentrations of these media and their electrode potentials were measured.
Also, weight loss measurements were recorded. The results obtained showed
that the chloride ion was the most aggressive while the least corrosion occurred
in the sulfide environment.
Keywords: Corrosion, API5Lx60 Steel, Oil and gas pipelines, electrode
potential
INTRODUCTION
The American petroleum Institute (API) 5L steel specification is used in
pipeline production (Materials Engineer, 2005). The steels are made into pipes
with appropriate thickness that established the pressure in the line and on the
allowable hoop stress levels, which vary for oil, and gas pipelines based on the
location of the pipeline. The pipelines are pressure tested in addition to various
non-destructive testing, carried out prior to being put into service.
Despite the above, in the last 10 years, there were about 2241 major
pipeline accidents in the United Kingdom, which resulted in about 226 deaths,
$700 million in property damage and damage to the environment (branch law
firm Com,2005). According to the report, in year 2000 alone, there were six
pipelines accidents which occurred in Knoxville, Tennessee, Bellingham,
Washington, Winchester, Kentucky, Greenville, Texas, Chalk point, Maryland
and Carlsbad, New Mexico. In Nigeria, petroleum pipeline explosion occur
regularly resulting in loss of human life and environmental pollution. In 1998,
there was a report of pipeline explosion in Idherhe (Jesse), hundreds of human
lives were lost (SOMIFON, 1998). Also, Trevo (2005) reported that more than
250 Nigerians died in petroleum pipeline explosion which occurred in Adeje
village near Warri (The Punch 14th Dec. 2005). These show that pipeline
degradation and failure by corrosion can occur anywhere in the world and at
anytime.
media. Comparing these results with those of electrode potential results, it was
observed that the highest corrosion rates occurred in NaCl while the least
corrosion rate was observed in Na2S solution. Thus there is good agreement
between the resuls of the electrode potential and those obtained through weight
loss.
Si
Mn
Cu
Ni
0.1829
Cr
0.1371
Mo
0.6544
V
0.0123
W
0.0187
As
0.0053
Sn
0.0175
Co
0.0004
0.0173
0.0003
0.0035
0.0015
0.0015
0.0005
Al
Pb
Ca
Zn
Fe
0.0116
0.0002
0.0001
0.0039
98.9310
-100
x 0.5 M
-200
- 1.0M
-300
- 1.5M
-400
-500
-600
-700
-800
-900
-1000
0
10
15
20
0
-100
0.5 M
-200
- 1.0M
-300
- 1.5M
-400
-500
-600
-700
-800
-900
-1
- 1000
- 1100
Exposure Time (Days)
Y-Axis
X-Axis
-100
0.5 M
-200
- 1.0M
-300
- 1.5M
-400
-500
-600
-700
-800
-900
-1
- 1000
- 1100
Exposure Time (Days)
Y-Axis
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
Y-Axis
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.2
0.1
X-Axis
Media Concentration (M)
Figure 6: Corrosion Rate Versus Media Concentration in Na 2S of API 5L x 60
steel at different stress level at 400C.For 20 days exposure.
CONCLUSION
API 5LX60 steel is a low carbon steel. The steel possessed reasonable corrosion
rates in NaCl, Na2Co3 /NaHCo3 and Na2S solutions, which constitute the natural
environment often confronted in oil and gas prospecting and transportation
areas. The corrosion rates of this material increase with increase in media
concentration and highest corrosion rate occurred in chloride environment
(found in marine or seawater) followed by in Na2Co3 /NaHCo3 (formed by
cathodic over-protection) while the lowest corrosion occurred in Na 2S medium
(contained in oil and gas fluid). The above indicate that internal corrosion of
API 5LX60 steel pipeline would be minimal while the external corrosion of the
steel pipeline that passes through or buried near sea would be appreciable hence
adequate corrosion protection would be needed while pipeline with cathodic
protection may experience corrosion if the protection current or voltage is in
appropriate.
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