Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

The problem of carbon dioxide (CO₂) corrosion is of primary concern in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The work aimed to develop a Visual Basic Algorithm, implement the algorithm, simulate and validate it against operating field data. Existing models for CO₂ corrosion prediction were accessed. Modification of one of the models; the NORSOK M-506 model was carried out to suit the Nigerian light crude oil. The entire model was implemented using Visual Basic to create an algorithm. With the developed computer algorithm, simulation and prediction of CO₂ corrosion rate, the analysis of the effects of various parameters were carried out using the operating field data in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The effects of various parameters (e.g. temperature) on corrosion rate along the pipeline length were analyzed using the developed algorithm. It was observed that the temperature gradually decreased as the oil flows through the pipeline. Other results obtained were in agreement with similar works done in this field of study. The developed computer algorithm also predicted corrosion rates that are in agreement with measured corrosion rates from operating field data. In addition, the developed algorithm prediction had a good agreement with HYDROCOR. It had a standard error (SE) of 0.18. And at 95% confidence level, confidence interval (CI) of the model was between 0.70 and 1.41 mm/year mean corrosion rate predicted.