No abstract

The microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is a very dangerous process, which affects the oil industry. The activity and microorganisms' growth at the pipelines steel cause surface modifications, which can induce a more complex corrosion process. The biocide evaluation for the MIC decrease has been normally based upon microbiological tests, and just a few references mention alternating methods which can be used as criteria for their evaluation. In this work, a commercial biocide was tested, using different electrochemical laboratory techniques, to determine its effect upon a biofilm generating bacteria consortium.Using microbiological techniques, the biocide lethal concentration was determined, and a concentration of 200 ppm was used to kill completely the consortium population in both, plancktonic and sessile parts. The electrochemical techniques: Polarisation Resistance (PR) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), allowed describing the corrosion process associated to the microbial consortium and the biocide effect upon it.

The effect of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) upon the cathodic protection of XL 52 steel was determined, in order to identify if the potential value of À0.950 V versus copper/copper sulfate electrode is good enough to protect the metal surface. During the experiments, different operational parameters were monitored: hydrogen sulfide production, iron concentration, electrolyte alkalinity, microorganisms' population, as well as the metal surface damage. At the same time, the corrosion rate was determined using two electrochemical techniques: polarization resistance (PR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). According to the results, it was observed that the protection potential of À0.950 V versus copper/copper sulfate electrode is not enough to control the microbiologically induced corrosion. This situation is reinforced by the fact that significant iron concentration was found in the electrolyte. The microbiological activity is not affected by the protection potential. On the contrary, the population growth is slightly strengthened. The alkalinity generated by the applied potential did not stop the SRB growth. A type of localized corrosion was developed during the experiments with microorganisms, even when the protection potential was applied to the system.

An epoxy penetration technique was used to reproduce and analyze the pitting corrosion process occurred at a steel coupon surface. The samples were exposed to the resin under high vacuum conditions, in order to fulfill the pits caused by the corrosion process. With this technique, a 3D image of the corrosion damages was obtained. Once the image of the damaged surface was obtained, a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the pits exhibited by the steel sample. The results were satisfactory, as different parameters such as the diameter, shape and depth of the pits originated, along with the corrosion preferential path, could be established. According to the results, the use of the epoxy penetration technique may be considered as alternating pitting corrosion analysis technique.