Author: Mayuly Rodriguez, July 1, 2023.
Introduction
Climate change, an undeniable reality in our times, has had a significant impact on various sectors of the world economy. Among those affected is the oil industry, whose infrastructures face a double challenge: accelerated corrosion due to this phenomenon and the consequent adverse effects on its sustainability, causing economic losses.
La corrosión por el cambio climático se ha convertido en una preocupación para la industria petrolera. As temperatures rise, precipitation patterns alter, and weather events intensify, oil facilities are exposed to more corrosive conditions.
Today there is an urgency to find preventive measures and innovative solutions to deal with corrosion induced by this factor. It is necessary to document the consequences that global warming has brought with it for this industrial sector, in order to support these effects in the long term.
There is universal concern about the influence of climate change, global warming and greenhouse gas emissions (all complex interrelated phenomena) on the corrosive effects in the industrial environment.
As global warming progresses, what challenges are emerging in the oil industry, being one of the main contributors to climate change? The answer lies in making industries aware of reducing the environmental footprint of their own operations.
Corrosion in the oil industry and its relationship with climate change
Corrosion is a natural process that affects various materials, it becomes even more worrisome in the context of global warming, where the rate of atmospheric corrosion in materials increases, due to environmental contamination. What is corrosion and how is it related to this global phenomenon? What are the climatic factors that intensify corrosion in oil infrastructures?
Corrosion can be defined as the gradual degradation of a material due to chemical and electrochemical reactions with its environment. In the case of the oil industry, this implies the degradation and damage of the structures, equipment and pipelines used in the exploration, production, storage and transportation of oil and its derivatives.
The relationship between corrosion and climate change is complex and significant. Extreme climatic factors accelerate corrosive processes in any industry, consequently also affecting oil infrastructures. One of the main factors is the increase in temperature, where global warming favors faster and more aggressive electrochemical reactions, which leads to an accelerated deterioration of materials, mainly existing materials which were selected or designed under other parameters of environmental conditions.
In addition to increased temperatures, changes in rainfall cycles, carbon dioxide, changing winds, and environmental pollution also contribute to corrosion. Fluctuations in relative humidity levels and the presence of acid rain due to the polluted environment, particularly in industrialized areas, create more corrosive environments.
The corrosion of metals by rain depends on the pH of the rain, the intensity, the duration and the quantity. The presence of SO2 decreases the pH of the rain and causes a faster chemical attack, generating corrosive indicators.
Higher temperatures will promote melting of ice, polar and glacial snows, increase the thermal expansion of seawater, resulting in a patchy global increase in humidity. This will have an impact on the hydrological cycle, resulting in increased humidity and precipitation and, over time, increased sea level and groundwater volumes. The change in temperature will result in extreme weather that will alter the severity and periodicity of wet/dry cycles and cause problems for industrial infrastructure and other sectors1.
Consequences of increased corrosion in the oil industry due to climate change
Accelerated corrosion in oil infrastructures, driven by climate changes, entails a series of significant consequences both in economic and environmental terms. Here are some of the main ones:
Economic losses: Corrosion induced by climate change variables has a direct impact on production and equipment operation. Corroded infrastructures are prone to premature failure, resulting in disruptions to production and the oil supply chain. This translates into low productivity and decreased revenue for the oil sector.
In addition, the costs associated with the maintenance and repair of failed assets become considerably high. Oil companies face additional expenses to mitigate the effects of corrosion, seek new strategies, replace paint systems, replace damaged equipment and carry out more frequent maintenance; which causes additional costs in the financial burden and impacts profitability in the long term.
Environmental damage: The effects of corrosion in the oil industry also impact the environment, oil spills and leaks resulting from rapidly corroded infrastructures due to climate change expose the environments where they occur to serious environmental consequences. These effects are also interrelated with economic losses, since they generate regulatory sanctions, legal claims and compensation for those affected.
Sustainability of the oil industry facing the challenge of corrosion induced by climate change
Accelerated corrosion in the oil industry poses challenges for the long-term sustainability of this globally important industry. Here are some of the factors to take into account:
Long-term risks: The deterioration of infrastructure and equipment due to corrosion leads to possible interruptions in production. In addition, the continued dependence on oil resources is threatened by the need for increased investment in the maintenance and repair of the affected infrastructure.
These factors, together with environmental sustainability, mean that the oil industry needs to develop effective and environmentally responsible solutions to minimize the long-term effects of corrosion on its assets.
Innovations and technological advances to combat corrosion caused by climate change: The oil industry works vigorously in the development of innovations and technologies to combat corrosion in general, but today in research it is mandatory to include all the influential variables due to the continuous advance of climate change. Methods and materials that are more resistant to corrosion are being implemented, with special protective coatings and specific alloys, which prolong the useful life of the assets.
In addition, monitoring and predictive maintenance are becoming increasingly important to detect corrosion problems. The incorporation of sensors and advanced monitoring systems allows continuous monitoring of corrosion conditions and facilitates decision-making for the management and maintenance of critical infrastructures located in environmentally aggressive environments.
Policies and regulations around the protection against corrosion: They are fundamental in the protection against corrosion in the oil industry. It is necessary to establish and implement stricter regulations to guarantee the protection of the environment and with this contribute to the improvement of the integrity and security of the infrastructures.
Additionally, they promote the application of design standards, selection of materials and construction that consider the multiple factors that emerge from the corrosion change as elementary. Likewise, they encourage the implementation of periodic inspection and maintenance programs, and compliance with risk management practices is required to mitigate the effects of corrosion.
Importance of collaboration between those involved and affected: The fight against corrosion induced by climate change in the oil industry requires close and effective collaboration between different actors. Industry, governments, surrounding communities and regulatory bodies must work together to share knowledge, promote research and establish effective mitigation strategies in collaboration with environmental sustainability.
Conclusion
To protect oil facilities and ensure the continuity of the industry, it is essential to seek sustainable solutions and adopt effective preventive measures. Awareness about the effects of climate change on corrosion must be widened and disseminated, particularly by those experts in new technologies, biofuels and sustainability.
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