Behavior of Zinc Sacrificial Anodes in Produced Water Environments Containing CO₂ and H₂S (C2026-00041)
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM Central
Location: 361 AB
Earn .5 PDH
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Produced water from gas fields can be highly corrosive due to dissolved CO₂, H₂S, organic acids, and salts. In gas processing plants, corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs) are often used to mitigate corrosion, but they significantly increase construction costs. Protective coatings on carbon steel offer a cost-effective alternative, though concerns remain about coating degradation. Cathodic protection may enhance reliability, but impressed current systems and aluminum/magnesium anodes are generally avoided in flammable environments due to ignition risks. Zinc anodes are commonly used instead. In CO₂-rich environments, zinc anodes tend to form zinc carbonate films, which may impair their performance. However, the behavior of zinc anodes in environments containing both CO₂ and H₂S remains poorly understood. This study investigates zinc anode behavior in artificial seawater simulating produced water, using thermodynamic simulations with “OLI Analyzer” and experimental methods. Results indicate that H₂S presence promotes the formation of sulfur-containing corrosion products, which may help preserve the sacrificial function of zinc anodes even in CO₂-containing conditions.
