Iron Oxides and Their Role in Oxygen-Influenced Internal Pipeline Corrosion in the Oil and Gas Industry (C2026-00259)

Shrirang Deshmukh, Bruce Brown, David Young

This review examines the fundamental relationship between iron oxides and corrosion mechanisms in oil and gas infrastructure exposed to oxygen contamination. Through comprehensive analysis of existing literature, this study explores how various iron oxides—including ferrous oxide (FeO), ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃), and mixed-valence magnetite (Fe₃O₄)—influence corrosion processes based on their physical and electrochemical properties. The review systematically evaluates the stability, electrical conductivity, and formation conditions of these oxides as depicted in Pourbaix diagrams and correlates these properties with corrosion behavior. Particular attention is given to magnetite's superior electrical conductivity (10²-10³ S/cm) compared to other iron oxides, which creates pathways for electron transfer that potentially accelerate localized corrosion. The analysis identifies distinct iron oxidation pathways (catalytic and non-catalytic) and their theoretical correlation to polarization curve regions, providing insights into how these mechanisms may interact with dissolved oxygen. This review highlights critical knowledge gaps regarding oxygen's role in corrosion processes, particularly in systems containing weak acids like CO₂ and H₂S, and proposes areas requiring further investigation to develop more effective corrosion prediction models and mitigation strategies for oil and gas infrastructure.