Designing an Oil-Impregnated Surface on Carbon Steel with Superior Corrosion Resistance to Oil-Water Alternating Flows

The control of pipeline corrosion in multiphase flow conditions has always been a big challenge to the oil industry. To extend the service lifetime of pipeline, we here propose a method of using an oil-impregnated steel surface against the water wetting induced corrosion. The hierarchically structured surface is directly converted from the corrosion products, which can effectively prolong the attachment of an oil layer in water flows. Corrosion may completely be ceased if the oil layer can stay on the surface for a time longer than the water wetting time. This idea was experimentally tested. The results showed that a slightly turbulent flow could improve the durability of the attached oil layer, presenting an adjustable self-healing performance via flow management. This new strategy for corrosion mitigation in multiphase flow pipelines may be applicable in some oilfield environments.