Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 61 (2019) 197–205

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Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

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Investigation on the efficiency of corrosion inhibitor in CO2 corrosion of T

carbon steel in the presence of iron carbonate scale
Mehdi Javidi∗, Reza Chamanfar, Shima Bekhrad
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 7134851154, Iran

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: In this work, the inhibition efficiency of an imidazoline derivative corrosion inhibitors in CO2 corrosion of
CO2 corrosion carbon steel was investigated in the presence of iron carbonate scale and hydrogen sulfide. The use of corrosion
H2S gas inhibitors is one of the most common controlling techniques for CO2 corrosion of carbon steel in oil and gas
Inhibitor efficiency industry. One of the imidazoline derivatives was used as a corrosion inhibitor which protects the surface through
Iron carbonate
the film formation mechanism. The investigation material was API 5L X65 carbon steel which was cut from a wet
Surface scales
gas transmission pipeline. The internal surface of the pipe was covered with iron carbonate as corrosion product.
In order to investigate the inhibitor efficiency, Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
were done in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% sodium chloride solution. According to the results, the existence of iron
carbonate film reduced the inhibition efficiency. Furthermore, it was found that in the presence of H2S gas, the
inhibition efficiency was decreased due to the decrease in inhibitor adsorption on the surface.

1. Introduction H2 CO3 → H+ + HCO3 − (5)

HCO3− → H+ + CO32 − (6)

One of the most critical problems in oil and gas industries is a type
of corrosion due to presence of CO2 gas, called sweet corrosion. This Anodic reaction
phenomenon occurs after dissolution of CO2 in aqueous phase which
Fe → Fe 2 + + 2e− (7)
produces carbonic acid followed by decrease in pH of the solution.
Because of economic reasons most of the pipes and equipment used in Total reaction
oil and gas industries are made from different types of carbon steel Fe + CO2 + H2 O → FeCO3 + H2 (8)
instead of stainless steel, which has a lower corrosion resistance against
CO2 corrosion. CO2-Corrosion reaction is an electrochemical reaction On the other hand, when gaseous H2S is present, it dissolves in the
which its anodic half-cell reaction is the dissolution of iron and the aqueous phase and contributes in electrochemical reactions. Equations
cathodic half-cell reaction is a mixture of hydrogen evolution and direct (9)–(14) show the reactions by which FeS can be formed as corrosion
carbonic acid reduction. The rate of each reaction depends on solution product (Bockris et al., 1961):
pH (Kunal, 2004; Amri, 2010; Nesic et al., 1995). The step by step CO2 H2 S(aq) ↔ H+ + HS − (9)
corrosion mechanism is shown by Equations (1)–(8) (Dugstad, 2006; De
Waard and Milliams, 1975; Dražić, 2012; Lorenz et al., 1987; Nešić, HS − ↔ H+ + S 2 − (10)
2007): −
Fe + H2 O ⇔ FeSHads + H3 O+ (11)
CO2 (g ) → CO2 (aq) (1) −
FeSHads ⇔ Fe (SH )ads + e− (12)
CO2 (aq) + H2 O → H2 CO3 (2)
Fe (SH )ads ⇔ FeSH+ + e− (13)
Cathodic reactions
Thus FeS can be formed on the electrode surface via Reaction 14:
H+ + e− → 1/2 H2 (3)
FeSH+ ⇔ FeS(1 − x ) + xSH− + (1 − x ) H+ (14)
H2 CO3 + 2e− → H2 + CO32 − (4)

∗
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: mjavidi@shirazu.ac.ir (M. Javidi), rezachamanfar@gmail.com (R. Chamanfar), shimabekhrad@gmail.com (S. Bekhrad).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2018.11.017
Received 2 June 2018; Received in revised form 15 October 2018; Accepted 15 November 2018
Available online 18 November 2018
1875-5100/ © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
M. Javidi et al.
Fig. 1. Tafel polarization curve for a). Bare samples without inhibitor; b). Bare samples with inhibitor; c). Samples with iron carbonate scale without inhibitor; d).
Samples with iron carbonate scale without inhibitor. All in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution containing 0, 50, 100, 150 ppm H2S concentration.
CO2 corrosion is affected by numerous parameters such as pH (Gray
et al., 1989, 1990; Nesic et al., 2001), temperature (Nesic et al., 2002;
Heydari and Javidi, 2012; Van Hunnik and Pots), CO2 partial pressure
(Nesic et al., 2002), flow velocity (Nesic et al., 1995, 2002), corrosion
products (Gulbrandsen et al., 1998) and H2S concentration (N.Stephen,
2006; Ikeda et al., 1984). Variety of these parameters leads to diffi-
culties in controlling the corrosion rate, thus it is essential to select a
suitable controlling method. One of the most practical and useful
methods is employing of corrosion inhibitors in corroding systems
(Khodaparast, 2014). Corrosion inhibitors are chemicals that once in-
jected to a corrosive environment in small concentration, adsorb on the
surface chemically or physically and decrease the corrosion rate effec-
tively (Roberge, 1993; Mansfeld, 1986). It is the mechanism of film
forming corrosion inhibitors. However, other type of inhibitors affects
the corrosion phenomenon via different mechanism. Nitrogen-based
organic compounds such as imidazoline, amides, amidomines, amines,
and salts are some commercial type of inhibitors that have been ef-
fectively utilized in oil and gas industry (Durnie et al., 2001). Imida-
zoline and its derivatives are generally utilized in order to protect
carbon steel in CO2-containing solutions. Selecting a suitable inhibitor
is half the way of protection of pipelines, the second half is monitoring
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Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 61 (2019) 197–205
the inhibitor performance and the parameters that affect it such as
foaming (Zhang and Wood, 2015).
Many papers were published on corrosion inhibitors in different
corrosive environments, but in most of these studies, samples with fresh
surface were investigated. However, in practice depending on service
conditions the surface of the pipeline may be covered with corrosion
products like iron carbonate film and iron sulfide and these films might
affect inhibitor performance (Zhang and Zhao, 2017). In 2006, Foss
et al., 2006 conducted a study on scale inhibitor interactions with oxide
layers on the surface of carbon steel. The results indicated that when
scale inhibitors are present, the rate of corrosion increases due to the
precipitation of a less protective layer in comparison with a state in
which there is no inhibitor in the system. In 2008, Foss et al. (2008) in
another study investigated the relation between surface wettability,
corrosion rate and inhibitor performance. In their study partly protec-
tive ferrous carbonate (FeCO3) covered carbon steel specimens were
used. They found that presence of corrosion product decreases the ef-
ficiency of corrosion inhibitor as a result of less adsorption of inhibitor
on the surface. In 2008 Paolinelli (Paolinelli et al., 2008) conducted a
study on the relationship between microstructure, surface condition
and inhibition efficiency of inhibitors in sweet corrosion. The results
M. Javidi et al.
Fig. 2. The XRD pattern: a) Bare sample. b). Iron carbonate scale covered samples. Both in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution containing 50 ppm H2S con-
centration.
showed a decrease in the inhibitor efficiency due to pre-corrosion, but
they found that this effect depends on microstructure of steel. In 2011,
Liu et al. (2011) investigated the interaction of inhibitors and presence
of corrosion products on N80 steel surface in a saturated atmosphere of
CO2 and salt. Based on their research, the inhibitor efficiency is de-
pendent on two parameters: first the size of the inhibitor molecule and
the second reaction of the inhibitor with scales which may be sy-
nergistic or antagonistic. In 2017, Chen Zhang (Zhang and Zhao, 2017)
investigated the impact of pre-corrosion on CO2 corrosion performance
of inhibitor in the CO2/H2S saturated brine solution. The results re-
vealed that pre-corrosion process decreases the performance of in-
hibitor as corroding species might diffuse to surface via diffusion path
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Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 61 (2019) 197–205
available through porosities in the corrosion product layers.
In this paper, the influence of iron carbonate corrosion product,
which formed during the service life of an API 5L X65 carbon steel
pipeline which transmitting wet natural gas, on inhibition efficiency of
an imidazoline derivatives corrosion inhibitor was studied. The effect of
H2S gas concentration has also been considered on the inhibitor per-
formance. It is the novelty of this work which investigates the effect of
iron carbonate corrosion product which formed in field service condi-
tion.
M. Javidi et al. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 61 (2019) 197–205

Table 1
Electrochemical parameters obtained from Tafel polarization curves for bare and iron carbonate covered samples with and without the presence of inhibitor in
0,50,100,150 ppm H2S concentration.
H2S concentration (ppm) Inhibitor i corr (A/cm2) Ecorr (V,vs.Ag/AgCl) Corrosion rate (mm/year) Efficiency (%)

Bare With iron carbonate Bare With iron carbonate Bare With iron carbonate Bare With iron carbonate

0 Without 1.08 × 10−4 1.78 × 10−5 −0.674 −0.652 1.257 0.205 99.86 88.30
With 1.48 × 10−7 2.08 × 10−6 −0.610 −0.354 0.017 0.024
50 Without 1.84 × 10−5 2.80 × 10−5 −0.650 −0.672 0.213 0.325 97.34 67.57
With 4.89 × 10−7 9.08 × 10−6 −0.626 −0.346 0.005 0.105
100 Without 1.39 × 10−5 2.53 × 10−5 −0.654 −0.667 0.161 0.293 83.09 43.47
With 2.35 × 10−6 1.43 × 10−5 −0.638 −0.361 0.027 0.166
150 Without 2.75 × 10−5 6.01 × 10−5 −0.641 −0.672 0.319 0.718 89.87 47.92
With 2.81 × 10−6 3.13 × 10−5 −0.692 −0.405 0.032 0.391

Fig. 3. SEM cross-sectional view photomicrographs. a, b, c). Bare samples. d, e, f). Iron carbonate scale covered samples. Both in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl
solution containing 50, 100,150 ppm H2S concentration, respectively.

2. Research methodology 2.2. Electrochemical measurements

2.1. Material characterization
The specimens of the studied material were cut from a piece of API
5L X65 carbon steel pipeline which experience wet natural gas trans-
mission conditions for 12 years. The pipe's chemical composition was
characterized by the use of an optical emission spectroscopy (OES,
Foundry-Master Pro). The service conditions and also characteristics of
the surface scale of the pipeline, including its chemical composition and
also thickness, were discussed in the previous work of the authors
(Javidi and Bekhrad, 2018).
The investigations were carried out on bare and iron carbonate scale
covered specimens with and without the presence of inhibitor. Bare
samples were polished by emery paper (up to 1000 grit SiC paper) then
washed by ethanol and finally dried with hot air. The electrolyte for
electrochemical studies was 3.5% wt. NaCl solution which purged with
CO2 gas to produce a CO2-saturated solution. The investigated corro-
sion inhibitor in this study was an amine-based imidazoline derivatives
inhibitor with TX-1100 commercial name (Travis Iran Co.) which in-
hibits the corrosion via film formation mechanism. Based on the com-
pany specifications a concentration of 50 ppm inhibitor in aqueous
phase was used as the optimized concentration. Thus, after saturation of
the solution with CO2 gas, the inhibitor was added to the solution with
50 ppm concentration. Then the samples were put in a cell to

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Fig. 4. a, b). Nyquist diagram curves and c, d). Bode phase plot for the bare samples without and with inhibitor; in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution containing
0, 50, 100, 150 ppm H2S concentration.

experience 24 h pre-corrosion condition. Such a treatment was done to H2 SO4(aq) + Na2 S(s) → Na2 SO4(aq) + H2 S(aq) (15)
ensure of the inhibitor film formation on the surface. It is necessary to
On the other hand, to verify the desired concentration of dissolved
note that pre-corrosion was also performed on samples without the
H2S in the solution, the iodometric titration technique which proposed
presence of the corrosion inhibitor to have a same treatment so that the
by NACE TM 0284-2016 was used. According to this test method, the
resulted data can be compared.
concentration of dissolved H2S in aqueous solution can be evaluated by
In order to consider the effect of different concentrations of H2S on
Equation (16):
the inhibition efficiency, three concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 ppm
of H2S in the aqueous phase were investigated. The reaction of sulfuric mg (A − B )
H2 S concentration ⎛ ⎞= × 17040
acid with sodium sulfate was employed to dissolve H2S gas into the ⎝ L ⎠ C (16)
CO2-saturated solution via following the stoichiometry of Reaction 15
(Ma et al., 1998, 2000; Taheri et al., 2012): A = Normality of standard iodine solution (equivalents/L) times the
volume used (L)

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Fig. 5. a, b). Nyquist diagram curves and c, d). Bode phase plot for the iron carbonate scale covered samples without and with inhibitor; in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.%
NaCl solution containing 0, 50, 100, 150 ppm H2S concentration.

Table 2
Electrochemical parameters obtained from EIS analysis for bare and iron carbonate scale covered samples with and without the presence of inhibitor in
0,50,100,150 ppm H2S concentration.
H2S concentration (ppm) Sample Inhibitor Rs (Ω.cm2) Rct (Ω.cm2) Y0 (sn/cm2.Ω) n Rfilm (Ω.cm2) Y0 film (sn/cm2.Ω) n η (%)

0 Bare Without 2.25 140.7 4.47 × 10−4 0.82 – – – 99.52

With 12.10 29617.0 5.49 × 10−6 0.66 – – –
With iron carbonate Without 15.09 1553.0 4.03 × 10−5 0.65 71.85 7.01 × 10−8 1.00 85.09
With 94.00 10422.0 7.36 × 10−6 0.42 1312.00 1.68 × 10−9 1.00
50 Bare Without 6.32 560.0 3.81 × 10−4 0.90 76.00 8.78 × 10−4 0.77 92.34
With 4.17 7350.0 1.63 × 10−6 0.80 452.00 2.49 × 10−5 0.59
With iron carbonate Without 15.83 241.0 6.13 × 10−4 0.42 20.00 4.27 × 10−4 0.63 78.67
With 34.33 1130.0 1.46 × 10−5 0.28 166.00 3.42 × 10−5 0.48
100 Bare Without 4.89 1000.0 3.31 × 10−4 0.81 33.00 7.97 × 10−4 0.80 76.55
With 8.87 4265.0 2.61 × 10−6 0.79 135.00 6.37 × 10−5 0.55
With iron carbonate Without 3.23 321.0 4.66 × 10−4 0.46 – – – 43.68
With 74.00 570.0 2.43 × 10−5 0.51 – – –
150 Bare Without 1.80 389.0 7.66 × 10−4 0.75 102.00 8.26 × 10−4 0.81 84.44
With 1.00 2500.0 6.16 × 10−5 0.59 68.00 2.29 × 10−4 0.57
With iron carbonate Without 9.70 75.0 9.28 × 10−4 0.28 – – – 45.25
With 72.00 137.0 2.22 × 10−4 0.33 – – –

B= Normality of standard sodium thiosulfate solution (equivalents/ The result of the titration technique revealed a close proximity be-
L) times the volume used (L) tween the desired dissolved H2S concentration and the calculated
C = Volume of test solution sample (L) concentration in such a manner that in case of dissolving 50 ppm H2S in
CO2-saturated solution, the result of titration showed the presence of

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M. Javidi et al.
47 ppm dissolved H2S. The value of the pH was found to be 4.0 for CO2-
saturated solution, and was changed to 2.8 and 2.5 after dissolving 100
and 200 ppm H2S, respectively.
All the electrochemical tests were conducted in a three-electrode
double-jacketed glass cell which was filled with 450 ml CO2-saturated
brine. The Ag/AgCl and platinum electrode were selected as the re-
ference electrode and counter electrode, respectively. Before each
electrochemical test, the samples have been pre-corroded in the solu-
tion for 24 h then open circuit potential (OCP) was monitored for
1800 s. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test was
performed in the frequency range of 100 kHz to 0.01 Hz with applying a
sinusoidal perturbation AC potential with amplitude of ± 10 mV.
Electrochemical parameters from EIS tests were obtained through fit-
ting the EIS data with ZView™ Software (3.4 Scribner Associates Inc.).
Then inhibitor efficiency, η, was calculated from the charge transfer
resistance by using charge transfer resistance (Rct) with Equation (17):
R ct − R ct
η= × 100
R ct (17)
where Rct and Rct° are charge transfer resistance with and without the
presence of inhibitor in the solution, respectively (Hosseini and
Ahadzadeh, 2012).
Tafel polarization test was performed after EIS measurements in the
potential range of −300 mV to 300 mV versus OCP at a scan rate of
1 mV/s and electrochemical parameters obtained through fitting curves
with Ivium Software (Ivium Technologies B.V.). Subsequently inhibitor
efficiency,η, was evaluated from corrosion current density (icorr) re-
garding Equation (18):
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Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 61 (2019) 197–205
Fig. 6. The equivalent circuits used for fit-
ting EIS data. a). Bare samples b). Bare
samples with inhibitor film in CO2-satu-
rated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution containing 0,
50, 100, 150 ppm H2S concentration or Iron
carbonate scale covered samples with in-
hibitor in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl so-
lution containing 0 ppm H2S concentration
or Iron carboante coverd samples without
inhibitor in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl
solution containing 0, 50 ppm H2S; c). Iron
carboante covered samples without in-
hibitor in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl so-
lution containing 100, 150 ppm H2S, or Iron
carbonate scale covered samples with in-
hibitor in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl so-
lution containing 50, 100, 150 ppm H2S.
i corr ° − icorr
η=
i corr ° (18)
where i corr ° and icorr are corrosion current density without and with the
presence of corrosion inhibitor, respectively. All electrochemical mea-
surements were performed at 40 °C and the reported data are the
average of at least three measurements.
2.3. Phase composition and surface investigation
After performing electrochemical experiments the surface of sam-
ples were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM,
Cambridge Stereo-scan S360) and the chemical composition of surface
scales was investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Cu-Kα radia-
tion (λ = 1.5406 Å) and the obtained patterns were analyzed by X'pert
Highscore Plus Software (PANalytical B.V.).
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Chemical composition of the scale
As mentioned in the experimental section, the phase composition of
the surface scale of the samples was studied in the previous work of the
authors. It was revealed that the surface scale consists of mainly iron
carbonate (siderite) with the rhombohedral crystal structure and FeCO3
chemical formula and also the minor amount of FeS (Mackinawite) was
detected. The absence of iron's peak in the X-ray sweep of Fig. 2. b
indicates that the diffracted beam passage from the steel substrate was
prevented because of the presence of thick iron carbonate surface scale
M. Javidi et al.
(Palacios and Shadley, 1991). Furthermore, it was found that iron
carbonate layer is a uniform scale with a 200 μm thickness which can
protect the surface against corroding spices. The protectiveness of the
film is widely influenced by environmental parameters such as tem-
perature, fluid flow, steel composition, and microstructure, etc.
(Kahyarian et al., 2016).
3.2. Potentiodynamic polarization measurement
Potentiodynamic polarization investigations were performed for
bare and iron carbonate scale covered samples with and without the
presence of inhibitor in different H2S concentration at 40 °C and the
results are shown in Fig. 1. Also, the electrochemical parameters were
obtained by fitting polarization curves with Ivium Software and are
showed in Table 1. According to Fig. 1 and Table 1, one can realize that
the corrosion current density of bare samples was decreased sig-
nificantly in the presence of inhibitor. The efficiency of the inhibitor
was found to be 99.86% which proves the inhibiting action of the in-
hibitor and formation of inhibitor film. On the other hand, Fig. 1c and
1.d and also the data presented in Table 1 reveal the decrease in cor-
rosion current density because of corrosion inhibitor in the presence of
iron carbonate scale. However, the decrease in corrosion current den-
sity and corresponding inhibition efficiency (88.3%) was not compar-
able as the decrease which was found for the bare sample. Thus, the
inhibitor efficiency decreased in the presence of surface layers
(Gulbrandsen et al., 1998; Zhang and Zhao, 2017; Paolinelli et al.,
2008).
By considering the data presented in Fig. 1 and Table 1 it can be
concluded that by increasing H2S concentration in the solution, corro-
sion current density of the bare samples is decreased. This is due to
formation and precipitation of mackinawite (FeS(s)) as corrosion pro-
duct on the surface in the presence of H2S in trace amounts (Ma et al.,
2000; Lee and Nesic, 2005; Plennevaux et al., 2013). On the other hand,
by comparing corrosion current density and inhibition efficiency of the
bare samples in different concentration of H2S an increase in corrosion
current density and a decrease in the inhibition efficiency can be ob-
served. This is due to the formation of FeS on the surface which pre-
vents the adsorption of inhibitor film on the surface.
By considering the data presented in Table 1, one soon realizes that
increasing the H2S concentration from 50 to 100 ppm declines the
corrosion current density. However, the corrosion current density in-
creases by rising the H2S concentration from 100 to 150 ppm. This
variation in corrosion current density can be observed for the bare and
also iron carbonate scale covered samples. Such a decrease in corrosion
rate of carbon steel can be attributed to the formation of FeS corrosion
product on the surface of the samples. The XRD pattern presented in
Fig. 2 reveals the presence of FeS on the surface of both bare and iron
carbonate scale in 50 ppm H2S concentration. On the other hand, the
SEM cross-sectional view of the samples which is presented in Fig. 3,
shows the formation of FeS on the bare and also iron carbonate scale
covered sample in case of the increase in H2S concentration from 50 to
100 ppm. However, by increasing H2S concentration from 100 to 150
formation of cracks on FeS film was observed.
3.3. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements
The EIS experiments were conducted for bare and iron carbonate
scale covered samples with and without the presence of inhibitor in
different H2S concentration and the resulted data are shown in Figs. 4
and 5 and the extracted electrochemical data are presented in Table 2.
Furthermore, Fig. 6 shows equivalent circuits used for fitting EIS curves
to investigate electrochemical parameters. The corresponding physical
models are also represented in the figure and the related sample con-
ditions are described in the figure caption. Electrochemical parameters
obtained by fitting the curves are reported in Table 2 and Equation (17)
was used in order to calculate the inhibition efficiency.
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Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 61 (2019) 197–205
By considering the data presented in Fig. 4 a and 4b one can see that
when inhibitor is present the diameter of the capacitive loop increased
for bare samples which mean corrosion rate has been decreased. On the
other hand, by comparing Fig. 5 a and 5b it was revealed that when
surface scales are present, the capacitive loop diameter, which is cor-
responding to charge transfer resistance, was increased however this
increase is less than the increase which was observed for the bare
sample. This phenomenon indicates that inhibition efficiency has been
decreased in the existence of scale on the surface which is in good
agreement with the results obtained in polarization test investigation.
According to Fig. 5a, for iron carbonate scale covered samples in
spite of the bare samples, it was seen that by increasing H2S con-
centration the capacitive loop diameter was decreased which may be
due to cracking of the film because of increase in its thickness by FeS
formation (Tait, 1994). Fig. 4c and 4d are showing Bode phase plots of
the bare samples when inhibitor film is present and FeS as corrosion
product and Fig. 5c and 5d also show Bode phase plots for the iron
carbonate scale covered samples in the presence of inhibitor and H2S in
the solution. Both of these curves are shown at least two-time constants.
The Low-frequency time constant indicates corrosion process on the
steel surface and the high-frequency one could be related to the film
covering the surface (Abelev et al., 2009).
By considering the data presented in Table 2, one can conclude that
for all samples in the presence of inhibitor, the charge-transfer re-
sistance increases which indicates that an inhibitor film is formed on
the surface. On the other hand, for the bare sample, the charge transfer
resistance increases by increasing H2S concentration, in the absence of
inhibitor, which can be related to the inhibition effect of FeS film as
corrosion product. This is attributed to the presence of H2S in trace
concentration in the solution and coverage effect mechanism (Lee and
Nesic, 2005; Lee, 2004). While, by increasing H2S concentration in the
solution in the presence of inhibitor, charge transfer resistance was
decreased which was related to poor adsorption of inhibitor film on the
surface due to more FeS formation (Zhang and Zhao, 2017). For iron
carbonate scale covered samples, it was found that by increasing H2S
concentration, the iron carbonate scale was deteriorated and charge
transfer resistance was decreased and consequently corrosion rate was
increased due to formation of cracks in the surface film by FeS growth.
4. Conclusions
In this investigation the influence of iron carbonate scale as corro-
sion product on inhibition efficiency of imidazoline derivatives corro-
sion inhibitor in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was studied. The
effect of H2S gas concentration has also been considered on the in-
hibitor performance. It was found that in the presence of iron carbonate
surface scale, the inhibition efficiency of the inhibitor phase was de-
creased due to decrease in adsorption of inhibitor on the surface.
Furthermore, it was revealed that inhibition efficiency decreased by
increase in H2S concentration in the solution due to surface film
cracking as a result of FeS formation and growth. Finally, it was con-
cluded that in the presence of trace concentration of H2S in CO2-satu-
rated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, the corrosion rate of the bare samples
decreases in the absence of corrosion inhibitor due to precipitation of
FeS scale.
Nomenclature
Rs Solution resistance
Rf Inhibitor film resistance
Rct Charge transfer resistance
CPEdl Constant phase element of the double layer capacitor
CPEf Inhibitor film constant phase element
CPEScale Scale constant phase element
RScale Scale resistance
W Warburg impedance
M. Javidi et al.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2018.11.017.
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