Corrosion

in
Petroleum Refining
By
Dr. Eng. G. M. Sherbini

C o rro s io n in P e tro le u m R e fin in g

L o w -te m p e r a tu r e c o r r o s io n

B y fe e d -s to c k c o n ta m in a n ts

H ig h -te m p e r a tu r e c o r r o s io n

B y p r o c e s s c h e m ic a ls

L o w -te m p e r a tu r e c o r r o s io n

INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
CAUSING CORROSION

Water
Hydrochloric acid
Hydrofluoric acid
Sulfuric acid
Caustic

F e e d -s to c k c o n ta m in a n ts
Air
Water
Hydrogen chloride
Hydrogen sulphide
Nitrogen compounds
Sour water

P r o c e s s c h e m ic a ls

Solvents
Neutralizers
Catalysts

OTHER CAUSES FOR

CORROSION
Atmosphere
Cooling water
Boiler feedwater
Steam condensate
Soil

H ig h -te m p e r a tu r e c o r r o s io n
Sulfidic corrosion (temp. between 260 &
540 oC)
Sulfidic corrosion w/o hydrogen present
Sulfidic corrosion with hydrogen present
Napthenic Acids
Fuel Ash
Oxidation

H2S

SIMPLIFIED REFINERY PROCESS FLOW

DIAGRAM & CORROSIVE CONSTITUENTS

H2S
NH3
LPG &Light Gases
H2S
NH3

Naphtha

Amine
Plant
Gas
Plant

Butane
Gasoline

CO2

Fuel Gas

B
L
E
N
D
I
N
G

SO2
H2

Alkylation

HF

HCl
Catalytic
reforming

Desulfurization

HCl H2S
Atmospheric
D
I
S
T
I
L
L
A
T
I
O
N

Crude
Feed
Napthenic
Acid

MgCl2*

Vacuum

CORROSIVE
UNDERLINED

Middle Distillates

Gas Oils

NH3
Gas
Naphtha
CO2
H 2S
HCN Fluid catalytic
Hydrogen
production

Gas Naphtha

H 2S
HCN

Coking
S

Desulfurization

cracking

NH3
H 2S

Treating

NH3
H 2S
H2

CO2

Gasoline

Jet Fuel
Kerosene
Heating
Oil

AMINE
H2

HydroCracking
S

Gas
Naphtha

Lubricating
Oil
Grease
Treating
Wax
H2SO4
SO2
Coke
Industrial Fuel
Asphalt

Sour Water
FCC

CRUDE

HDS

Coking
NH3
CO2 H2S
HCN

Steam

SOUR WATER STRIPPER

ClPhenols

Treated
Water

CORROSIVE
CONSTITUENTS IN OIL
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SALT WATER
INORGANIC AND ORGANIC
CHLORIDES
INORGANIC AND ORGANIC ACIDS
NITROGEN

END

OilRefinery

Schematic flow
diagram of a
typical natural gas
processing plant.

H 2S
H 2S

H 2S
H 2S

HCl

H 2S
H 2S
NH3

H 2S

NHH3 2S
NH3

Amine
Plant

H 2S

Catalytic
reforming

Desulfurization
HCl H2S
Atmospheric
D
I
S
T
I
L
L
A
T
I
O
N

B
L
E
N
D
I
N
G

Alkylation

H2S
NH3

HCl

NH3

Fuel Gas

Gas Plant
HCl

NH3 NH
3
CO2

Fuel Gas
Middle Distillates

Treating

NH3
H 2S

Fluid catalytic
cracking

Desulfurization
Desulfurization
Hydrogen
AMINE
production
HydroCracking

Vacuum

Coking

Treating