The Thomasville Field was discovered in 1969 followed by subsequent discoveries of similar reservoirs at the Piney Woods Field, Southwest Piney Woods Field and the Harrisville Field. Burch No. 1 was the first well turned into the gas processing plant on July 5, 1972. All wells were continuously inhibited. The first failure was discovered in the Garrett No. 1 in May of 1973 while the well was being worked over to remove some apparent fill. A review of well producing pressure data indicated tubular problems in the other wells. All wells were worked over and all wells had holes in the tubing. Corrosion rates approximated 400 mils (10 mm/yr) per year. The problem was a result of complete vaporization of the corrosion inhibitor and oil carrier. This problem was solved in 1973 but resulted in annular deposits. The annular deposit problem was solved in 1976. Since then, the wells have produced without serious corrosion or annular deposits. The technology was subsequently adapted to other severe corrosion problems.
This paper reviews the well environments and completions, summarizes the corrosion inhibition technology, reviews the evolution of the technology since 1976 necessitated by both changing well conditions and changing economics and the corrosion inhibition results in the wells.
Keywords: Inhibition, sour gas, corrosion