The Use of Sodium Silicate as a Corrosion Inhibitor in a Saline Drilling Fluid: A Nonaggressive Option to the Environment

Abstract

The function of a corrosion inhibitor in drilling mud compositions is the corrosion protection of the equipment involved in drilling operations. Many compositions involve environmentally several products such as fatty amines of high molecular weight, polyoxylated amines, amides, imidazolines, nitrogen heterocyclic products, etc. The potential advantages of the use of silicates are the effective protection of carbon steel, especially in aerated saline fluids, low costs and non-aggressive behavior to environment. Gravimetric and electrochemical tests were carried out using an aerated solution of 3.5% NaCl and the addition of sodium silicate (Na 2 SiO 3 ·9H 2 O) as a corrosion inhibitor at concentrations of 250 to 2000 mg/L. The efficiencies of the corrosion protection of carbon steel using silicate concentrations greater than 1250 mg/L were greater than 92%.