Film persistency of new high-temperature water-based batch corrosion inhibitors for oil and gas wells

Water-based corrosion inhibitors, in addition to providing improved performance, offer several other advantages over oil-based corrosion inhibitors, such as better water-partitioning characteristics, high flash points, and higher reportable quantities if a spill occurs. We have found in several instances that new water-based corrosion inhibitor products provide longer treatment lives and better protection than similar inhibitors in oil-based formulations. Corrosion inhibition in high-temperature (HT) oil and gas wells has been frequently accomplished using oil-based corrosion inhibitors. This paper presents some earlier laboratory work and field performance data on new water-based corrosion inhibitors relative to conventional oil-based HT corrosion inhibitors. A laboratory investigation using white light interferometry is also presented on the film thickness and uniformity measurements of corrosion inhibitor films. This information is compared with field performance of the corrosion inhibitor.