Both field experience and lab data indicate that the corrosion rate in pure dense phase CO2 is near
zero if no free water is present. It is not confirmed that this also applies when other contaminants like
SOx, NOx, H2S and O2 are present in moderate amounts.
In a pipeline network with different type of CO2 sources, the comingling of streams with various
impurities can give a very complex mixture, and side reactions like oxidation and decomposition of
impurities can be foreseen. An important issue is how the contaminants partition between the various
phases during pressure reduction and when free water is present. The corrosion mechanisms under
these conditions are not very well understood and it becomes more and more uncertain what will
happen when the concentration of contaminants including water increases. The paper addresses these
issues and discusses recent results obtained in corrosion and partitioning experiments carried out in
flow loops and autoclaves.
Key words: CCS, Corrosion, CO2, SO2, O2