METHODS FOR PROTECTING PIPELINES

Abstract

A method for inhibiting corrosion in pipelines for transporting oil and gas is described. A nano-machine is fed along with an inert gas to the pipeline to deliver a corrosion inhibitor which is chemically bonded to the nano-machine. The nano-machine is made by attaching a corrosion inhibitor to a nanoparticle by way of a covalent bond. When the nano-machine encounters a source of corrosion in the pipeline, the corrosion inhibitor is released to treat the corrosion.

Claims

1. A method for introducing a corrosion inhibitor into a pipeline comprising feeding a nano-machine to the pipeline.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pipeline is selected from the group consisting of oil pipelines and gas pipelines.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nano-machine is a plurality of nano-machines.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nano-machine comprises a nanoparticle chemically bonded with a corrosion inhibitor.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nanoparticle comprises a base.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of silica, zinc, iron and titanium.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the corrosion inhibitor is hydrocarbon resistant.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the nanoparticle comprises a core and a shell.

9. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the corrosion inhibitor is covalently bonded to the nanoparticle.

10. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein two or more corrosion inhibitors are present.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nano-machine is fed to the pipeline in an inert gas atmosphere.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the nano-machine has a concentration up to 1% in the inert gas.

14. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the nanoparticles release the corrosion inhibitor in the vicinity of corrosion in the pipeline.

15. A method for introducing a corrosion inhibitor into an oil and gas pipeline comprising feeding a nano-machine containing the corrosion inhibitor and a nitrogen atmosphere to the pipeline.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pipeline is selected from the group consisting of oil pipelines and gas pipelines.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the nano-machine is a plurality of nano-machines.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the nano-machine comprises a nanoparticle chemically bonded with a corrosion inhibitor.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the nanoparticle comprises a base.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of silica, zinc, iron and titanium.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the corrosion inhibitor is hydrocarbon resistant.

22. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the nanoparticle comprises a core and a shell.

23. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the corrosion inhibitor is covalently bonded to the nanoparticle.

24. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein two or more corrosion inhibitors are present.

25. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the nano-machine has a concentration up to 1% in the nitrogen atmosphere.

26. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the nanoparticles release the corrosion inhibitor in the vicinity of corrosion in the pipeline.

27. The method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the nanoparticles releasing the corrosion inhibitor into the nitrogen atmosphere.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the released corrosion inhibitor flows with the nitrogen atmosphere until the corrosion inhibitor contacts a corrosion site in the pipeline.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a nano-machine for delivery of a corrosion inhibitor.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a nano-machine releasing a corrosion inhibitor.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the chemical synthesis of a nano-machine for delivery of a corrosion inhibitor.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a pipeline and the interaction of the nano-machines for delivery of a corrosion inhibitor to local corrosion sites in the pipeline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a nano-machine according to the invention which can be used for the on-demand local delivery of a corrosion inhibitor inside an oil and gas pipeline.

[0036] A nanoparticle (NP) forms the center of the nano-machine. The surface of the nanoparticle (SNP) is modified through a chemical or mechanical process which allows for the attachment through a chemical bond (CB) of a corrosion inhibitor (I). This corrosion inhibitor can be employed to assist in treating localized corrosion sites in an oil and gas pipeline.

[0037] FIG. 2 demonstrates the action of the nano-machine in the region of localized corrosion sites in an oil and gas pipeline. This mechanism of inhibitor release shows how the chemical bonds (CB) formed can be tailored to the type and/or composition of corrosion products encountered by the nanoparticle (NP). This bond will cleave between the inhibitor (I) and the surface of the nanoparticle (SNP)

[0038] FIG. 3 shows the synthesis steps of the chemical reaction for forming a nano-machine for the delivery of a corrosion inhibitor to a local corrosion deposit in an oil and gas pipeline. Acrylic acid and water are heated together along with a nanoparticle comprising Boehmite, an aluminum oxide hydroxide mineral. The resulting nanoparticle comprises the nanoparticle along with resulting covalent bonds

[0039] The nanoparticle thus created is added to a solution of water with a corrosion inhibitor dissolved therein. For example, 2-amino-6-methylbenzothiazole may be added to water to form a solution and this molecule will attach covalently to the nanoparticle. The resulting nano-machine will then be dried in a spray drier and can then be added to an oil and gas pipeline.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the presence of the nano-machines in nitrogen gas in a pipeline. The pipeline 10 shown here has several local corrosion sites (LC) that need to be treated otherwise holes could form and leakage could occur as well as loss of structural integrity.

[0041] The shaded area shows the nitrogen (N2) gas that will contain the nano-machines that will be added to the pipeline 10 to assist with treating local corrosion sites in the pipeline LC. As the nitrogen progresses through the pipeline from left to right in FIG. 4, the nano-machines will encounter the local corrosion sites LC and in response will release the corrosion inhibitor that is covalently attached to the nanoparticle that is the core of the nano-machine, thereby emitting a hydroxyl ion. The corrosion inhibitor will interact with the local corrosion while other nano-machines still containing the corrosion inhibitor will progress further along the pipeline until they encounter a local corrosion in the pipeline.

[0042] While this invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it is apparent that numerous other forms and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The appended claims in this invention generally should be construed to cover all such obvious forms and modifications which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.