Water Wetting Joint Industry Project
Internal corrosion of oil and gas wells and pipelines made of carbon steel is associated with the presence of water on the pipe surface, a scenario known as water wetting. When the circumference of the pipe is fully coated with oil, corrosion will not occur. Increased knowledge of water wetting and predictive capabilities can increase the confidence of the corrosion engineers and operators on the integrity of pipelines and can decrease the cost associated with corrosion mitigation.
The factors that contribute to water wetting in pipelines are both hydrodynamic and chemical. In general, higher oil flow rates and heavier oils will have a lesser tendency for water wetting. On the other hand, low oil flow rates, light oils, and large diameter pipelines are associated with a greater tendency for water wetting. Furthermore, surface active components from the oil, either naturally occurring or added as inhibitors, can alter the wettability of the steel surface, so that it’s less likely to be wetted with water, even under less desirable hydrodynamic circumstances.
Deliverables
- Improved understanding of water wetting and the key factors affecting it.
- State-of-the-art predictive model of water wetting in oil/water two-phase and gas/oil/water three-phase flows pipe flows.
- Design and development of small scale benchtop devices for phase wettability tests.
- Customized phase wettability assessment for specific crude oils.
- Reports documenting results, analysis and outlining future work.
- Database of water wetting and multiphase flow data which can be made available to others under special agreement.
Papers
- "A comprehensive model for stability of dispersed oil-water flow in horizontal and inclined pipes", Luciano D. Paolinelli, Chemical Eng. Science 2019.
- "Study of water wetting in oil-water flow in a small-scale annular flume", Taylor Gardner, Luciano D. Paolinelli, Srdjan Nesic, Exp. Thermal & Fluid Science 2019.
- "Study of water wetting and water layer thickness in oil-water flow in horizontal pipes with different wettability", L.D. Paolinelli, A. Rashedi, J. Yao, M. Singer, Chemical Eng. Science 2018.
- "Phase wetting detection and water layer thickness characterization in two-phase oil-water flow using high frequency impedance measurements", L.D. Paolinelli, J. Yao, A. Rashedi, Journal of Petroleum Sci. & Eng. 2017.
- "Characterization of droplet sizes in large scale oil-water flow downstream from a globe valve", L.D. Paolinelli, A. Rashedi, J. Yao, International Journal of Multiphase Flow 2017.
- "Experimental Study of Oil-Water Flow Patterns in a Large Diameter Flow Loop-The Effect on Water Wetting and Corrosion", Kok Eng Kee, Sonja Richter, Marijan Babic, and Srdjan Nesic, Corrosion 2016.
- "How Do Inhibitors Mitigate Corrosion in Oil-Water Two-Phase Flow Beyond Lowering the Corrosion Rate", Chong Li, Sonja Richter, and Srdjan Nesic, Corrosion 2014.
- "Model Compound Study of the Mitigative Effect of Crude Oil on Pipeline Corrosion", F. Ayello, W. Robbins, S. Richter and S. Nesic, Corrosion 2013.
- "Experimental Study of Water Wetting in oil–water Two Phase flow—Horizontal Flow of Model Oil [PDF]", Cai, J., Li, C., Tang, X., Ayello, F., Richter, S., Nesic, S. Chemical Engineering Science, 2012, 73, 334-344.
- "Role of Asphaltenes in Inhibiting Corrosion and Altering the Wettability of the Steel Surface [PDF]" Ajmera, P., Robbins, W., Richter, S., Nesic, S. Corrosion, 2011, 67(10).
- "Evaluation of the Protectiveness of Paraffins for CO2 Corrosion [PDF]", Yang, S., Robbins, W., Richter, S., Nesic, S., Corrosion/12, Paper nr. C2012-0001323, (Houston, TX, NACE, 2012).
- "Crude Oil Chemistry Effects on Inhibition of Corrosion and Phase Wetting [PDF]" Francois Ayello, Win Robbins, Sonja Richter, Srdjan Nesic. NACE Paper No. 11060, 2011.
- "The Role of Asphaltenes in Inhibiting Corrosion and Altering the Wettability of the Steel Surface [PDF]" Pankaj Ajmera, Win Robbins, Sonja Richter, Srdjan Nesic. NACE Paper No. 10329, 2010.
- "Effect of Corrosion Inhibitor on Water Wetting & CO2 Corrosion in an Oil-Water Two Phase System [PDF]" Chong Li, Sonja Richter and Srdjan Nesic, ICC2008 Paper No. 2662, Las Vegas, October 2008.
- "Crude Oil Chemistry Effects on Inhibition of Corrosion and Phase Wetting [PDF]" Francois Ayello, Winston Robbins, Sonja Richter and Srdjan Nesic, ICC2008 Paper No. 3149, Las Vegas, October 2008.
- "Study of Wettability of Different Steel Surfaces [PDF]" Xuanping Tang, Sonja Richter and Srdjan Nesic, Paper No. 3109, ICC2008, Las Vegas, October 2008.
- "Experimental Studies of Wetting in Large-Diameter Horizontal Oil/Water Pipe Flows [PDF]," J. Cai, S. Nesic, C. Li, X. Tang, F. Ayello, C.I.T Cruz and J.N. Al-Khamis. SPE Paper No. 95512
- "Determination of Phase Wetting in Oil-Water Pipe Flows [PDF]," Francois Ayello, Chong Li, Xuanping Tang, Jiyong Cai, Srdjan Nesic, C.Ivan T. Cruz, Jamal N Al-Khamis. NACE Paper No. 08566, 2008
- "Effect of oil type on phase wetting transition in oil-water flows [PDF]," Xuanping Tang, Francois Ayello, Chong Li, Srdjan Nesic, Jiyong Cai, C.Ivan T. Cruz, Jamal N Al-Khamis. NACE Paper No. 07170, 2007
- "Experimental Study on Water Wetting and CO2 Corrosion in Oil-Water Two-Phase Flow [PDF]," Cai,J.; Li,C.; Ayello,F.; Tang,X.; Nesic,S.; Cruz,I.; Al-Khamis,J. NACE paper No. 06595, 2006
- "A multiphase flow and internal corrosion prediction model for mild steel pipelines [PDF]," Nesic,S.; Cai,J.Y.; Lee,K.-L.J. NACE paper No. 05556, 2005
- "Modeling of Water Wetting in Oil-Water Pipe Flow [PDF]," Cai, J.; Nesic, S.; NACE International Conference and Exhibition, Paper No. 04663, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2004
Please contact Luciano Paolinelli for more information on the TLC-JIP.
Wettability Studies
The Institute for Corrosion and Multiphase Technology has built an extensive knowledge of the water wetting phenomena, starting in 2004. Current research emphasizes three-phase, oil-water-gas flow. The introduction of the third phase (gas) has a tremendous effect on the distribution of liquids on the pipe circumference and impacts water wetting. Knowledge of the wettability in three-phase flow has special importance since gas is usually present in wells, production flow lines, and risers.
In order to investigate multiphase flows, the Institute employs an instrumented 4-inch ID inclinable flow loop which allows for studies on horizontal, inclined or vertical orientation, in both upwards and downwards flows (Figure 1). Phase wettability is assessed using conductivity probes, which detect the conductivity of the fluid present at the steel surface. We take complementary relevant measurements such as characterization of flow patterns (visualization through a clear section using high-speed video), pressure drop (manometers and differential pressure transducers), phase distribution (impedance traversing sensor, impedance tomography, fluid sampling), dispersed water droplet sizes (particle video imaging and video endoscopy), and corrosion rate (electric resistance probes and custom-designed probes).
Small-scale benchtop devices have been developed and tested in order to study water wetting in flow conditions. These devices have been based on a shear-driven annular flow concept and proved to be very useful for studies on entrainment of water layers in two-phase oil-water flows using reduced volumes of oil (as low as two gallons). Phase wetting assessments on crude oil-water systems become to be much quicker and much less expensive with these devices.
Wetting characteristics of carbon steel surfaces in specific oil-water environments are also studied by means of contact angle technique (water-in-oil and oil-in-water) using a goniometer with video capability. Electrochemical studies are also performed in conventional glass cells and other flow cells to determine if surface active components from the oil can have an impact on the persistence of oil films.
All the obtained experimental data is employed to build and validate physical models to predict phase wetting at the internal pipe walls of multiphase flow lines (water wetting model). The development of the water wetting model is also assisted by computational fluid dynamic (CFD) studies.