Process Optimization · Technical solution
Naphthenic Acid Corrosion Management
Combine crude and fraction assessment, equipment review, corrosion monitoring and inhibitor selection when evaluating high-acid crude processing.
Discuss your application
Assess the crude in its operating context
A higher-acid crude introduces questions about where corrosive components will concentrate and which equipment will be exposed. Crude blending, fraction properties, temperature, metallurgy and flow conditions all belong in the review.
Total acid number is useful for following changes in acidic constituents, but it should not be used alone to predict corrosion severity or to define a safe operating envelope.
Map the areas that need attention
Review the crude unit and associated hot-oil circuits with the refinery’s corrosion and operations teams. Local conditions can matter, so an average sample or a single monitoring location may not represent the most affected surface.
- Crude blend and relevant fraction analyses
- Equipment metallurgy, operating temperatures and inspection history
- Transfer lines, side streams and locations with changing flow conditions
Combine monitoring methods
Use the site’s inspection and corrosion-monitoring program to establish a baseline and follow the response. Depending on the equipment and access, the review may involve thickness measurements, suitable probes and fluid analyses.
Metal trends can provide supporting information, but changes in oil-phase iron are not a direct measurement of a local corrosion rate. Interpret each measurement with its location, sampling conditions and limitations.
Evaluate inhibitor treatment
Cestoil evaluates high-temperature corrosion-inhibitor options for the intended stream and operating conditions. Product selection and delivery need to account for surface exposure, existing chemistry and downstream requirements.
Agree the treatment and monitoring plan with the refinery team. Initial conditioning and ongoing treatment are application-specific; neither a fixed acid-number formula nor a historical treatment schedule should be applied universally.
Review results before changing the operating envelope
Assess corrosion observations alongside changes in crude blend, temperature, throughput and treatment. Findings should support a joint review of the program and any proposed operating change.
Chemical treatment is one part of corrosion management. It does not replace inspection, equipment suitability or the refinery’s operating limits.
Discuss your operating challenge
Useful information for an initial technical review:
- Crude and fraction analyses and the planned blend
- Metallurgy, inspection findings and monitoring locations
- Current treatment, downstream constraints and operating objectives