Analysis of technological factors affecting corrosion aggressiveness in gas condensate wells and substantiation of controllable operating parameters
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33271/crpnmu/86.309Keywords:
CO2 partial pressure, critical flow velocity, sulfate-reducing bacteria, produced water, inhibitor protection criteria, bottomhole pressureAbstract
Purpose. Analysis of the technological factors that increase the corrosion aggressiveness of the environment in gas-condensate producing wells, and substantiation of the criteria for mandatory inhibitor protection.
The methods. The main corrosion factors of downhole equipment were systematized – the concentration of corrosive components (CO2, H2S), the partial pressure and temperature of the environment, the mineralization and pH of produced water, and the gas-liquid flow velocity. The carbon dioxide partial pressure at the bottomhole and wellhead was calculated; laboratory testing for sulfate-reducing bacteria was performed using the SRB-BART method; and the gas-liquid flow velocities in the upper tubing joint were analysed.
Findings. It is shown that most corrosion factors, except flow velocity, are practically unregulable during well operation. The actual partial pressure of CO2 (0.61–1.99 MPa at the bottomhole; 0.21–1.43 MPa at the wellhead) was found to exceed the threshold of 0.2 MPa by a factor of 2–10, meaning that the entire studied well stock is subject to continuous inhibitor protection. The regulated criteria for mandatory inhibitor protection proved non-uniform in selectivity: the criteria for CO2 content and partial pressure are met throughout the entire stock, whereas the criteria for corrosion rate and iron ion content are met for approximately half of the stock. No bacterial iron sulfide formation was recorded. In some wells, the gas-liquid flow velocity exceeds the critical value of 11 m/s.
The originality. For the first time, an inverse relationship was found between a well's flow-velocity rank and its gravimetric assessment: the well ranked second by flow velocity (15.08 m/s) shows the minimum corrosion rate (0.063 mm/year); the distinction between admission and well-prioritisation criteria is substantiated.
Practical implementation. The results provide grounds for forming criteria for selecting wells for technological intervention based on hydrodynamic rather than solely hydrochemical indicators, which improves the accuracy of assessing the actual risk of corrosion damage to downhole equipment.
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