Withanolide corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel

Abstract

Acidic fluids used in wells or pipelines cause corrosion of carbon steel. Methods for inhibiting corrosion include contacting carbon steel with a fluid having an aqueous acidic phase including a material selected from the group consisting of: a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, an extract of a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, a withanolide, a source of a withanolide, a withanolide derivative, a source of a withanolide derivative, and any combination thereof. The methods have wide application in various kinds of operations involved in the production or transportation of oil and gas, such as acid stimulation in a well or remedial treatment in a pipeline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a portion of a well or a pipeline with a fluid comprising an aqueous acidic phase, the method comprising the steps of:
 (A) forming the fluid comprising an aqueous acidic phase, the fluid additionally comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, an extract of a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, a withanolide, a source of a withanolide, a withanolide derivative, a source of a withanolide derivative, and any combination thereof; and   (B) introducing the fluid into the portion of the well or pipeline;   wherein the fluid contacts carbon steel in the well or pipeline.   
     
     
         2 . A method of inhibiting corrosion of carbon steel to be contacted with a fluid comprising an aqueous acidic phase, the method comprising the steps of:
 (A) forming the fluid comprising an aqueous acidic phase, the fluid additionally comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, an extract of a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, a withanolide, a source of a withanolide, a withanolide derivative, a source of a withanolide derivative, and any combination thereof; and   (B) contacting the carbon steel with the fluid.   
     
     
         3 . A method of contacting carbon steel with a fluid comprising an aqueous acidic phase, the method comprising the step of: including in the fluid a material selected from the group consisting of: a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, an extract of a material of a plant in the Solanaceae family, a withanolide, a source of a withanolide, a withanolide derivative, a source of a withanolide derivative, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the fluid is a water-based fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous acidic phase comprises a water-soluble salt. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous acidic phase comprises one or more salts selected from the group consisting of alkali metal halides. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous acidic phase comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and any mixture thereof present in the aqueous acid solution in a concentration in the range of from about 2% to about 35% by weight of water. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous acidic phase comprises a mineral acid having a pKa(1) less than −1.74. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous acidic phase comprises an organic acid having a pKa(1) lesser than 5. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous acidic phase has a pH less than 4. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the material of a plant in the Solanaceae family is of the root of the plant. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the plant in the Solanaceae family is also selected for producing a withanolide. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the plant in the Solanaceae family is also in a genera selected from the group consisting of:  Datura, Dunalia, Iochroma, Lycium, Nicandra, Physalis, Salpichroa, Solanum, Withania , and  Jaborosa.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the plant in the Solanaceae family is also in the genera  Withania.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the extract is in particulate form when being added to the fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the extract is in a liquid solution when being added to the fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the material is biodegradable. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the material is a concentration in the range of from about 0.01% wt/vol to about 20% wt/vol of the aqueous acid solution. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the fluid additionally comprises a corrosion inhibitor intensifier. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the fluid additionally comprises potassium iodide. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a design temperature is at a temperature of greater than 200° F. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a design temperature for contacting of the carbon steel and the fluid is less than 300° F.