Temperature and Reaction Time’s Effects on N80 Steel Corrosion Behavior in Supercritical CO2 and Formation Water Environments

Abstract

In the present study, an immersion experiment was carried out to examine how N80 steel corrodes when exposed to formation water containing dissolved CO2 and supercritical CO2 (Sc-CO2) along with water vapor. We employed electrochemical and surface analysis methods to examine the influence of various factors, including the temperature and duration of immersion, on the extent of corrosion. The results show that the corrosion patterns of N80 steel in a supercritical CO2 environment and CO2-saturated formation water differed significantly. The presence of similar corrosion features was suggested by the constant structure of the corrosion products identified in the formation water. However, the morphology of the corrosion product was complex in the supercritical CO2 environment, exhibiting features of pitting and localized corrosion. Furthermore, a non-linear trend in the corrosion rate was observed between 40 °C and 120 °C. Specifically, the rate of corrosion declined from 40 °C to 80 °C, but it then resumed its growth from 80 °C to 120 °C. These findings suggest that very high temperatures could lead to the destruction of corrosion products and subsequently enhance the corrosion process.