Specific amounts of oxidizing and reductive impurities as well as some moisture were added to dense phase CO2 to replicate CO2 streams from sources in a CCS pipeline network. Due to the moisture content being only 50 ppmV no visible acid condensation took place. To simulate stress conditions at the inside pipeline surface due to fluid pressure (10 MPa) specimens were preloaded using a load frame. Experiments conducted at 278 K and at 313 K revealed the highest corrosion rate at lower temperature. Corrosive effect of impurities was strongest applying mixed atmosphere, containing oxidizing and reductive components, closely followed by CO2 streams with pure oxidizing character. By far, the lowest corrosion rate (10x lower) resulted from reductive atmosphere. In general, at constant temperature and pressure the CO2 stream composition strongly influences the morphology, thickness and composition of the corrosion products. Applying oxidizing or mixed impurities, iron hydroxides or oxides (e.g. goethite, hematite) occur as dominating corrosion products, capable to incorporate different amounts of sulfur. In contrast, using reductive atmosphere very thin corrosion layers with low crystallinity were developed, and phase identification by XRD was unfeasible. SEM/EDX analysis revealed the formation of Fe-O compounds, most likely attributed to the oxygen partial pressure in the system induced by CO2 (≥0.985 volume fraction) and volatile H2O. In addition to the surface covering corrosion layer, secondary phases had grown locally distributed on top of the layer. These compounds are characteristic for the applied atmosphere and vary in number, shape and chemical composition.
This work examined the droplet corrosion of CO2 pipeline steels caused by impurities in CO2 supercritical/dense phase at 278 K, simulating the underground transport condition. The wetting properties of carbon steels (X52 and X70) as well as martensitic steel UNS S41500, and superaustenite UNS N08031 were studied by contact angle measurement, revealing reactive wetting behavior of carbon steels. Exposure tests with CO2 saturated water droplet on steel surface showed that the impurities (220 ppmv SO2 and 6700 ppmv O2) diffused into the droplet and then reacted with metal coupons in supercritical/dense phase condition, forming the corrosion product instantly during pumping process. Due to the active wetting behavior, the carbon steels suffered from heavily attack, while negligible corrosion product was observed in cases of martensitic steel UNS S41500 and superaustenite UNS 08031 coupons. Condensation experiments that were carried out on fresh polished coupons in CO2 with 1200 ppmv H2O showed that the formation and aggregation of droplet is dependent on the presence of impurities. Without SO2 and O2, the same concentration of H2O did not cause observable corrosion process after a week of exposure. With 220 ppmv SO2 and 6700 ppmv O2 even low water concentration (5-30 ppmv) still resulted in heterogeneous nucleation and subsequent growth of droplets, leading to corrosive process on carbon steel surface albeit to a lesser extent.
In this work, the focus was set on the corrosion process of condensate as drops on the surface of carbon steels (X52, X70), martensitic steel UNS S41500, and superaustenite UNS N08031 in CO2 atmosphere with impurities at 278 K (to simulate the transportation condition in a buried pipeline). Exposure tests were performed at both normal pressure and high pressure where CO2 is supercritical or in dense phase. The drop, 1 ‑ 10 μL in volume, was prepared by dropping CO2 saturated ultra-pure water onto the surface of steel coupons in a one-liter-autoclave. The CO2 gas stream, simulating the oxyfuel flue gas with varying concentration of impurities (SO2 and O2 ), was then pumped into the autoclave to observe the condensation and corrosion impacts of impurities. Comparable exposure tests were carried out with the same gas mixture and the same volume of water as vapor to observe the drop formation and the corrosion process that follows. The wettability and stability of drops on the surface of steel coupons in CO2 supercritical/dense phase environment was evaluated additionally by contact angle measurement.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is identified as an excellent technology to reach the target of CO2 reduction. However, the safety issue and cost effectiveness hinder the future of CCS. For the reliability and safety issues of injection wells the corrosion resistance of the materials used needs to be determined.
In this study, representative low cost materials including carbon steel 1.8977 and low alloyed steel 1.7225 were embedded in cement to mimic the realistic casing-cement interface. Electrochemical studies were carried out using these metal-cement specimens in comparison with those made of metal only in CO2 saturated synthetic aquifer fluid, at 333 K, to reveal the effect of cement on the steel performance. The results showed the protective effect of cement on the performance of pipeline metals during polarisation process. However, the corrosion current density was high in all cases, with and without cement, indicating that the corrosion resistance of these materials is low. This conclusion was supported by the surface analysis of the polarized specimens, which revealed both homogenous and pitting corrosions.
The research focus of this study was set on the corrosion process of condensate as droplets on the surface of carbon steels (X52, X70) martensitic steel UNS S41500, and super austenite UNS N08031 in CO2 atmosphere with impurities at 278 K (to simulate the offshore transportation condition in a buried pipeline). The possibility of dew/droplet formation on the steel surface and wetting behavior of corresponding materials were evaluated by contact angle measurement in dense CO2 at 278 K. To observe the effect of impurities (SO2 and O2) on droplet corrosion process, exposure tests were carried out in the mixed atmosphere with a drop, 1 ‑ 10 µL in volume, of CO2 saturated ultra-pure water on steel surface. Comparable exposure tests were carried out with the same gas mixture and the same volume of water, as vapor, to observe the droplet formation and the corrosion process that follows. Effects of surface roughness on the droplet formation and its corrosion process were further studied and showed no significant role upon long time exposure. The results from droplet experiments were compared to those from the bulk electrolyte for the further recommendation on the quality control of gas stream along with the use of carbon steels as transport pipelines in CCS - Carbon Capture and Storage system.
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is a promising technology for the reduction of CO2 emissions, e.g. from fossil-fuel operated power plants or cement mills. Crucial points for a sustainable and future-proof CCUS procedure are reliability and cost efficiency of the pipeline transport network. Due to the absence of certified benchmarks for upper limits, systematic experiments with impurities in the CO2 stream were carried out. For oxidation processes SO2 and NO2 acted as corrosive components, and for reductive atmosphere H2S. Carbon steel L485MB (pipeline), martensitic steel 1.4313 (compression) and austenitic steel 1.4562 (injection) were selected as specimens. Experiments were performed at 0 bar or 100 bar and within a temperature range 278 K ≤ T ≤ 313 K. High-alloyed Cr-Ni steels revealed no corrosion (1.4562, 1.4313), while for carbon steel considerable corrosion was observed. The type and intensity of corrosion was strongly coupled with the applied corrosive species and the level of humidity in the CO2 stream, leading to different compositions of acidic condensates. Applying a reducing atmosphere results in very little corrosion rates, but provokes pitting corrosion. In contrast, oxidizing or mixed settings lead to a clearly increased growth of the corrosion layer, but exhibit shallow uniform corrosion. Exceptional nitric acid results in intergranular corrosion. Investigations on the specimens were carried out by optical microscopy, XRD, SEM/EDX, and AAS/IC.
The process chain for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) includes tubing for injection of CO2 into saline aquifers. The compressed CO2 is likely to contain specific impurities; small concentrations of SO2 and NO2 in combination with oxygen and humidity are most harmful. In addition, CO2 saturated brine is supposed to rise in the well when the injection process is interrupted. The material selection has to ensure that neither CO2 nor brine or a combination of both will leak out of the inner tubing. In this comprehensive paper the investigated materials range from low-alloy steels and 13% Cr steels up to high-alloy materials. Electrochemical tests as well as long term exposure tests were performed in CO2, in brine and combination of both; pressure was up to 100 bar, temperature up to 60 °C. Whereas the CO2 stream itself can be handled using low alloy steels, combinations of CO2 and brine require more resistant materials to control the strong tendency to pitting corrosion. The corrosion behavior of heat-treated steels depends on factors such as microstructure and carbon content. For different sections of the injection tube, appropriate materials should be used to guarantee safety and consider cost effectiveness.
The geological storage of carbon dioxide (Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS) in depleted gas reservoirs or in saline aquifers is a widely discussed issue. Carbon dioxide may induce corrosion on the piping steels during compression, transportation and injection. Therefore,
selection of appropriate piping steels is a key factor in order to increase the safety and reliability of the CCS technology, and to keep the processes cost-effective.
The here described subproject of the COORAL project (German acronym for “C02 purity for capture and storage”) deals with the levels of impurities in the C02 stream that will be acceptable when using specific steels. Material exposure to carbon dioxide (C02) containing
specific amounts of water vapor, oxygen (02) sulfur dioxide (S02), nitrogen dioxide (N02), carbon monoxide (CO) can be a challenge to steels. Within this subproject 13 different Steels are tested for suitability as materials used for compression, transportation and injection Units within the CCS chain.