Corrosion inhibition performance and mechanism analysis of a quaternary ammonium salt inhibitor on steel pipes

• D. Weilin^1,2,3, L. Wanying², L. Yuanhua^1,2, D. Yonggang³, R. Jian³ and Z. Yanfeng³

¹ State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation (Southwest Petroleum University), Chengdu 610500, Sichuan, China
² School of New Energy and Materials, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, Sichuan, China
³ Safety Environment Quality Surveillance & Inspection Research Institute of CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Ltd., Guanghan 618300, Sichuan, China

Abstract: Pipeline corrosion remains a critical factor limiting production efficiency in oilfields. In this study, the corrosion inhibition performance of the CR-1 inhibitor, developed by our research group and currently applied in the ZD oilfield, was systematically evaluated on L245N and L360N steels, and the underlying inhibition mechanism was investigated in order to provide both theoretical insights and practical guidance for the selection and application of corrosion inhibitors in analogous corrosive environments. Weight loss tests, electrochemical measurements (EIS and Tafel polarization), surface analysis (SEM, XPS, etc.) and molecular simulations (DFT and MD) were employed to comprehensively analyze the corrosion inhibition performance of CR-1 and its interaction mechanism with the metal surface. At a concentration of 800.0 mg/L, CR-1 exhibited an excellent corrosion inhibition effect on L360N steel, with corrosion inhibition efficiencies of 95.41%, 93.5% and 94.25% obtained by the weight loss method, EIS and Tafel polarization, respectively. The surface analysis and theoretical simulation results indicated that CR-1 can form a stable and dense protective film on the steel surface through chemical and physical adsorption, effectively blocking the erosion of corrosive media. Therefore, CR-1 can significantly inhibit the corrosion process of carbon steel in the corrosive environment of the ZD oilfield and is an efficient and feasible pipeline corrosion inhibitor, whose adsorption and film-forming mechanism is mainly mixed adsorption, featuring both chemical and physical adsorption characteristics.

Keywords: corrosion, electrochemistry, corrosion inhibitor, L360N

Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., 2026, 15, no. 4, 371-395
doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2026-15-4-16

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