Corrosion of stainless steel 316L in simulated formation water environment with CO2–H2S–Cl−

A synergistic effect of high concentration of chloride and H2S on oxide formation and metal dissolution has been studied on 316L stainless steel by electrochemical measurements, inductive coupled plasma (ICP) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Chloride concentration had a significant effect on semiconductor properties of the oxide film, while the gases had little effect. A relatively high concentration of sulphur was found inside the oxide formed in a high chloride concentration electrolyte with high H2S compared to the oxide formed in low concentrations, which indicates that sulphur entered the oxide film through local weakening of the oxide by the chloride.