CORROSION OF OILFIELD EQUIPMENT AND ANTICORROSION TECHNIQUES APPLIED ON THE KARAKUDUK OILFIELD (WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN)

The article delves into the modern problem of oilfield equipment corrosion and anticorrosion techniques. The authors of the article pursued the goal of generalisation of amassed data and information about problems and perspectives of anticorrosion techniques; and tried to analyse current factual material about anticorrosion protection of the Karakuduk oilfield equipment.On the basis of multiyear functioning of the Karakuduk oilfield facility, from the beginning of commercial production in 1998, planned by NIPImunaigaz Research Institute (Aktau, the Republic of Kazakhstan) in 1996, a brief overview on primary causes of oilfield equipment corrosion was made and an array of substantial implications in the functioning of oilfield equipment caused by corrosion was pointed out.The most preeminent and effective applicable anticorrosion techniques were scrutinised. Some information about peculiar features of anticorrosion operations carried out on the Karakuduk oilfield and designed for the anticipation and deflation of the influence of corrosive processes on the key oilfield equipment of various systems: the reservoir pressure maintenance system, the oil production system, the oil gathering system, and the oil treatment system, was sequentially presented. The order of corrosion control was described. Qualitative conclusions about the effectiveness of anticorrosion preemptive measures were made; also some recommendations concerning the choice of anticorrosion techniques were given.