Prevent Failures and Extend Asset Life: A Reliable Onsite Corrosion Inhibitor Residuals Method Using SERS

Abstract Asset integrity for oil and gas operations requires reliable chemical information to troubleshoot factors affecting chemical deliverability and performance. Accurate and precise measurement of corrosion inhibitor (CI) concentration in oilfield brine is significant to asset management. However, historically CI residual measurements are extremely problematic due to the surface-active nature of the chemicals which interact with a host of factors that parasitically deplete the CI solution concentration. It is typical to see >100% error on traditional residual measurements especially where dye transfer techniques are concerned. Current methods and sample handling for measuring residuals involves sending samples to a local laboratory for analysis. This time delay can add to the measurement error due to loss of inhibitor species to the sample container or solids that may form in transport. This paper describes the use of a simple, portable, handheld, onsite, nanotechnology-based, residual method to measure CI concentrations in oilfield brines. With more frequent and highly accurate CI residual feedback operators can react to system conditions that threaten to impact asset integrity. Using the CI residual data provided by a rapid, accurate analytical method, operators could extend asset life and prevent failures long before they become critical.