Mapping erosion-corrosion of carbon steel in oil-water solutions : Effect of velocity and applied potential

In this study, the combined effects of erosion and corrosion on carbon steel were investigated in three environments containing crude oil, reservoir water, and a mixture of both solutions at a range of applied potentials, velocities and impact angle. The results indicate that the corrosion contribution was augmented with an increase in the percentage of reservoir water. Both the erosion and corrosion contributions increased with impact velocity for all three environments. Following exposure of the carbon steel in the crude oil, the extent of the erosion was greater than that of corrosion, whilst in the reservoir water, the erosion and corrosion contributions were similar. Mechanisms of erosion-corrosion were proposed based on the change in erosion behaviour at various impact angles and applied potentials in the various environments. Erosion-corrosion maps were constructed based on the results, showing the change in mechanisms and wastage rates as a function of impact velocity and applied potential at various impact angles