Laboratory testing of enhanced biocide mitigation of an oilfield biofilm and its microbiologically influenced corrosion of carbon steel in the presence of oilfield chemicals

- D-amino acids enhance a biocide against an oilfield biofilm consortium.
- D-amino acid reduces tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate dosage.
- The biocide cocktail achieves lower weight loss and smaller maximum pit depth.
- D-amino acids are chemically compatible with the other tested oilfield chemicals.
- Electrochemical tests corroborate weight loss and pitting data in this lab study.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is prevalent in the oil and gas industry. Problematic biofilms cause MIC and reservoir souring. A high biocide concentration is usually required to mitigate biofilms compared with planktonic cells. This causes economic and environmental concerns. A biocide enhancer can make a biocide more effective using the same or lower biocide dosage. In this work, an equimolar mixture of 100 ppm (w/w) of four D-amino acids (D-methionine, D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-leucine) labeled as D-mix enhanced 100 ppm tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS) against a field biofilm consortium on C1018 carbon steel coupons. In order to test chemical compatibilities, D-amino acids were added together with THPS and enhanced oil recovery chemicals (a polymer, a surfactant, a corrosion inhibitor, and a scale inhibitor) to treat the mature biofilm consortium. After a 7-day biofilm removal test in 125 ml anaerobic vials, the cocktail of 100 ppm THPS +100 ppm D-mix achieved extra logs of reduction in sessile cell counts compared with the 100 ppm THPS alone treatment. The combination also achieved lower weight loss and smaller maximum pit depths. Electrochemical tests corroborated the weight loss and pitting data.