CORROSION OF A DRILLING PIPE STEEL IN AN ENVIRONMENT CONTAINING SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA

In this study, the microbiologically influenced corrosion caused by su lphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) has been studied. The material tested w as a drilling pipe steel designated as N-80. Weight loss studies and p otential measurements were carried out in two types of culturing solut ions, with and without SRB inoculated. From weight loss studies, corro sion rate in SRB inoculated solution has been found to be roughly six fold greater than that in the medium without SRB. Also under the inves tigated conditions, the effective concentration of biocide necessary t o control corrosion of N-80 steel in the presence of SRB, has been fou nd to be at least 500 ppm. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.