Corrosion resistance of some downhole tubing materials were studied in a recirculating flow loop simulating conditions that induce flow enhanced corrosion. The selected materials included carbon steels (AISI 1018, API X-52), coiled tubing, 0.5% Cr, and 13% Cr (AISI 420) martensitic steel The X-52 steel showed the worst resistance to both general and localized corrosion while 13 Cr demonstrated the best performance. The corrosion resistance of the other three materials varied with the conditions. Hydrocarbons were found to have an effect on varying the corrosion rates. All of these materials can be protected with a continuous treatment of corrosion inhibitors. However, the inhibitors were found less effective on coiled tubing and 0.5% Cr steel than carbon steels, regardless of applications simulated (batch or continuous). The decreased efficiency is
attributed to the enrichment of Cr in the surface film on which inhibitors are less favorably adsorbed.
Keywords: flow loop, downhole, tubulars, oilfield, inhibitors, corrosion, coiled tubing, 13Cr, 0.5Cr, martensitic, CO2