Current Downhole Corrosion Control Solutions and Trends in the Oil and Gas Industry: A Review

In the oil and gas industry, the presence of aggressive fluids and gases can cause serious corrosion problems. Multiple solutions have been introduced to the industry to minimize corrosion occurrence probability in recent years. They include cathodic protection, utilization of advanced metallic grades, injection of corrosion inhibitors, replacement of the metal parts with composite solutions, and deposition of protective coatings. This paper will review the advances and developments in the design of corrosion protection solutions. The publication highlights crucial challenges in the oil and gas industry to be solved upon the development of corrosion protection methods. According to the stated challenges, existing protective systems are summarized with emphasis on the features that are essential for oil and gas production. Qualification of corrosion protection performance based on international industrial standards will be depicted in detail for each type of corrosion protection system. Forthcoming challenges for the engineering of next-generation materials for corrosion mitigation are discussed to highlight the trends and forecasts of emerging technology development. We will also discuss the advances in nanomaterial and smart material development, enhanced ecological regulations, and applications of complex multifunctional solutions for corrosion mitigation which have become of great importance in recent decades.