Evaluation of corrosion and scaling potentials of oilfield waters in an offshore producing facility, Niger Delta

Abstract

Abstract In this study, water samples from Miocene reservoirs, offshore Niger Delta, and seawater samples used for water injection were investigated in an attempt to examine the chemistry, evaluate the corrosion behaviour of steel, iron, and aluminium in different aqua media, and evaluate the scaling potentials of the oilfield produced waters (OFPW). Chemical analyses of the waters were determined; corrosion rate measurements were carried out by the weight loss method at room temperature while corrosion kinetics was carried out using conventional methods. Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), Larson–Skold index (L–S), Puckorius scaling index (PSI), and aggressiveness index (AI) were evaluated for assessing the corrosiveness and scaling potential of the formation waters, using water quality data. The magnitude of corrosion of these metals was studied for an exposure period of 42 days. Chemical analysis revealed that the waters are slightly alkaline and generally classified as hard, saline water of the Na-Cl type based on its total dissolved solids (TDS). Produced water pH values range from 7.32 to 8.38. Results showed the likelihood of some of the water to form mild to severe scales based on the corrosivity indices, while the seawater samples are classified as ‘non-aggressive’ and ‘aggressive’. Steel has the highest corrosion rate with a value of 3.84 × 10−3 mg cm−2 h−1 compared to aluminium with the lowest rate of 0.37 × 10−3 mg cm−2 h−1. In most cases, the rate of corrosion of the metals followed the first-order rate constant in some of the samples, and the second-order in others within the first seven days. It was observed that the rate of corrosion follows this order: steel > iron > aluminium. The potential heavy and intolerable corrosion associated with the use of these seawater samples as injection waters is a potential risk that must be handled by adequate treatment.