EUROCORR: Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion Failure Investigation Trends in Oil and Gas Upstream Operations

Failures in oil and gas upstream operations due to microbiologically influenced
corrosion (MIC) are usually challenging to assess. The reason behind it is usually twofold: the complex interaction between microbiological, chemical, metallurgical, and operating related conditions that cause MIC to occur; and the difficulty in distinguishing MIC from abiotic corrosion mechanisms (e.g., CO2, H2S). This presentation summarizes a review of 50 failure investigation reports for MIC related incidents in oil and gas pipelines in Alberta, Canada which occurred from 2017 to 2019. Using these reports, a gap analysis was performed to better understand and compare specific methodologies and criteria used to identify MIC as a root cause or contributing factor to the resulting failure. Key areas and strategies for improving the diagnosis of MIC failures were identified. The goal is to help identify limitations of current approaches, and to advance best practices by incorporating and integrating these multiple layers of evidence.
Additionally, to enhance the exchange of knowledge regarding MIC in Europe, a new European MIC COST network (CA20130) was initiated. It involves multiple MIC subject matter experts around the world, and its scope and goals will be discussed for coming advancements in the prevention and mitigation of MIC in Europe.