Development of Biomediated Chitosan – Silver Nanoparticles Composite as Multifunctional Corrosion Inhibitor for Oil Field Applications

The overall objective of the proposed project is to develop biomediated chitosan silver nanoparticles composite with dual capacity to inhibit low carbon steel corrosion in sweet (CO2) environment and microbial influenced corrosion (MIC). CO2 corrosion is one of the most significant causes in the oil and gas pipelines failures and occurs at all stages of production from downhole to surface equipment and processing facilities. Carbon dioxide gas dissolves into the saltwater and forms weak carbonic acid. This acid reacts with the iron of the low carbon steel pipes enhancing their corrosion rate. A common technique utilized for the mitigation of corrosion of carbon steel is the application of corrosion inhibitors. The effect of a corrosion inhibitor or a mixture of corrosion inhibitors is to form a protective film by reaction of the solution with the corroding surface. Bacterial activity and mainly sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) activity is responsible for > 75% of the corrosion in productive oil wells and > 50% of the failures of buried pipelines and cables. The presence of SRB in oil environments results in decrease the quality and value of oil, contamination of natural gas and oil, corrosion of metal surfaces, and the plugging of reservoirs due to the precipitation of metal sulfides in the fluid flow paths and the consequent reduction in oil recovery. The use of biocides is advocated for the control of MIC. Legislations and environmental issues have curtailed the use of some traditional corrosion inhibitors and biocides and necessitated the development of new ones. In the proposed project, biomediated chitosan silver nanoparticles composite will be explored as CO2 corrosion inhibitor for low carbon steel and MIC inhibitor. Interest in chitosan stems from the fact that it is non-toxic, biodegradability and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is known to possess antimicrobial property. Plant material common in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia such as date palm leaf and hummayd (Rumex vesicarius) will be used to synthesize the chitosan- silver nanoparticles composite using green approach. Diverse experimental techniques will be employed to evaluate both the sweet (CO2) and MIC corrosion inhibition effect of the developed inhibitor. It is expected that on completion of the proposed project, a novel, cheap eco-friendly and biodegradable corrosion inhibitors based on chitosan AgNPs composite would be developed that will find application in the oil field operations as multifunctional corrosion inhibitor to mitigate both CO2 and MIC corrosion for low carbon steel.