Flow cell apparatus for quantitative evaluation of carbon steel corrosion during transitions in fluid composition: Application to transition from inhibited hydrochloric acid to sodium chloride brine

This paper introduces a new flow cell technique that offers the advantage of real-time corrosion rate behaviour acquired as transitions in fluid chemistry occur using in situ electrochemistry. The present study quantifies the corrosion behaviour of a metal surface initially exposed to inhibited acid and subsequently exposed to a model formation brine. The design, optimisation and validation of the flow cell set-up is discussed. Results from initial tests show that inhibition efficiency and steel corrosion rate change significantly during the dilution process as the inhibitor film experiences concomitant changes in the “external” concentrations of acid and propargyl alcohol inhibitor.