ABSTRACT

This paper will summarize the use of stainless steels to control naphthenic acid corrosion which occurs in petroleum refining distillation units when certain crude oils are processed. Naphthenic acids are organic acids found in some crude oils worldwide, Venezuelan and Californian crudes being the most well known. It will be shown how various stainless steels behave in refinery distillation equipment processing these naphthenic crudes. Variables such as velocity effects, sulphur content of crude oil, process design of units and alloy content of stainless steels will be discussed. The experiences in the main will be with Venezuelan crudes, references being made to crudes from California, the North Sea, West Africa and East Asia.