The application of organic inhibitors for the abatement of corrosion in the petroleum industry is a relatively recent development. The history of this development is briefly reviewed, with particular emphasis on the application of corrosion preventives in oil and gas wells.
The mechanics of inhibitor use and recommended methods of application are discussed.
Corrosion rate data are presented for a number of typical systems in which organic corrosion inhibitors are used. These systems include oil wells, gas condensate wells, gas lines, water injection systems, gasoline plant stripping columns and refinery processing units.
The question of the mechanism of the action of organic inhibitors in reducing corrosion rates of metals is briefly considered. Laboratory and field data on the relation between inhibitor concentration and corrosion rate are analyzed and compared with the predictions of corrosion rate derived from adsorption theory.
