Study of Galvanic Corrosion of Carbon Steel Pipelines Versus Some Types of Stainless Steel

Abstract

In petroleum industry under special conditions (NaCl concentration of 70,000 ppm and temperature of 70 C˚ ) a significant galvanic corrosion problems are appeared . The conditions in the petroleum wells in the eastern region in Libya regarding the characteristics of formation water, which has concentration of NaCl ranging between 40,000 to 70,000 ppm and varied temperature degrees between 40 C˚ and 70 C˚ The constructing materials of these wells are connected with piping system made essentially from carbon steel .The piping system contains for special purposes some joints of stainless steel of grades 304 as well as 316 . The connection points between carbon steel and stainless steel considered as focal points for galvanic corrosion due to the potential difference between both materials in the electromotive series . The objective of this work is to study the galvanic corrosion in such case and the evaluation of rates of corrosion (for carbon steel) by laboratory tests . The experimental technique used in this study is the weight loss method.