Polyhydroxyetheramine Corrosion Inhibitor for Acid Treatment Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corrosion inhibitors used in acid treatments for subterranean formations often face issues with phase separation due to improper hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, leading to decreased corrosion inhibition and increased operational expenses, and the use of surfactants can cause formation damage and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The use of water-soluble polyhydroxyetheramines as corrosion inhibitors and intensifiers, which coat metal surfaces to inhibit corrosion from both mineral and organic acids without requiring surfactants or solvents, maintaining stability at high temperatures and reducing the risk of phase separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If quaternary amine corrosion inhibitors are used, then corrosion inhibition is provided, but phase separation occurs due to improper hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular structure of corrosion inhibitors by adjusting the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance through chemical composition changes. Specifically, it uses quaternary amine salts with optimized alkyl chain lengths and counterion selection to achieve proper solubility in aqueous acid solutions without phase separation, thereby maintaining both corrosion inhibition effectiveness and solution stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If surfactants are added to prevent phase separation, then solution stability is improved, but formation damage and fluid complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for separate surfactant additives by incorporating surfactant-like properties directly into the corrosion inhibitor molecule itself. The quaternary amine structure with appropriate alkyl chains provides both corrosion inhibition and solubility stabilization functions in a single compound, removing the need for additional surfactants and reducing fluid complexity.
3Reliability
If corrosion inhibitors are used, then metal surface protection is achieved, but operational expenses increase due to additional acid and additives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional corrosion inhibitor that simultaneously provides corrosion protection, solution stabilization, and acid consumption management. The quaternary amine salt structure can neutralize acid, protect metal surfaces, and maintain solution homogeneity without requiring separate additives, thereby reducing the total quantity of substances needed and lowering operational expenses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Polyhydroxyetheramines effectively inhibit corrosion of metal surfaces in subterranean formations, enhancing the efficacy of existing corrosion inhibitors and maintaining stability over extended periods at elevated temperatures, thus reducing equipment replacement and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The polyhydroxyetheramine may coat at least a portion of a metal surface... The coating may inhibit corrosion of the metal surface from an acid solution
Implementation Method 2
The polyhydroxyetheramine is capable of complexing with the dissolved iron ions without the use of iron-scavenging additives
Data Source
AI summary
Provide are methods and systems for inhibiting corrosion of a metal surface. An example method comprises providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous carrier fluid and a polyhydroxyetheramine corrosion inhibitor; contacting the metal surface with the treatment fluid; and contacting the metal surface with a mineral acid. Another example method comprises providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous carrier fluid, a non-polyhydroxyetheramine corrosion inhibitor, and a polyhydroxyetheramine corrosion inhibitor intensifier; contacting the metal surface with the treatment fluid; and contacting the metal surface with an organic acid. An example system comprises a treatment fluid comprising a polyhydroxyetheramine, an acid, and an aqueous carrier fluid; mixing equipment capable of containing the treatment fluid; pumping equipment capable of pumping the treatment fluid into a wellbore; and the metal surface.