Flexible pipes used in oil and gas production are composed of densely packed steel wires enclosed in an annulus confined by inner and outer thermoplastic sheaths. Water CO2 and H2S from the bore diffuses through the thermoplastic sheaths and form a corrosive environment in the confined space between the sheaths. Oxsygen in seawater or air can also enter the annulus if the outer sheath is damaged. The large steel surface to water volume ratio in the annulus and a limited ingress of corrosive species give a complex corrosive environment. Experiments show that in systems without H2S and O2 large amounts of dissolve corrosion products can accumulate and eventually give protective FeCO3 based corrosion product films and low corrosion rates. When H2S or O2are present the corrosion rate increases as the protective corrosion products films are destabilised when FeCO3 reacts and form FeS and oxides.The paper discusses:Field experiences and the challenges of simulating the field annulus condition in small scale lab experiments.Experimental approach and results obtained in experiments with CO2 and small amount of O2or H2S in an environment with varying concentration of dissolved corrosion products.