Assessment of Corrosion Inhibitor Programme Effectiveness in Gas Condensate Pipelines in Bayelsa State

Corrosion inhibitor injection programmes are the primary chemical defence against internal corrosion in wet gas and condensate pipelines, and their management effectiveness directly determines pipeline service life and integrity. This study assesses the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitor injection programmes applied to gas condensate export pipelines in Bayelsa State, examining two pipeline systems operated by upstream companies in the Nembe and Sagbama production areas. The research employs a programme effectiveness assessment methodology, analysing corrosion inhibitor injection records, corrosion monitoring data from corrosion coupons and electrical resistance probes, inhibitor residual concentration measurements, and pipeline inspection findings from recent intelligent pigging runs. The study evaluates inhibitor selection appropriateness relative to the corrosive species present (CO2, H2S, and organic acids), injection system reliability, inhibitor distribution uniformity along the pipeline, and the correlation between inhibitor residual concentrations and measured corrosion rates. Findings reveal that inhibitor residual concentrations at pipeline midpoints fall below the minimum effective concentration for approximately 30 percent of measurement records, attributable to inhibitor injection pump reliability issues and insufficient injection volumes during high-flow rate periods. Corrosion rate data show a statistically significant inverse correlation with inhibitor residual concentration, confirming programme effectiveness when properly executed. Recommendations include installation of redundant inhibitor injection pumps, real-time inhibitor concentration monitoring using online electrochemical probes, and corrosion inhibitor laboratory performance testing before product qualification. Keywords: corrosion inhibitor, gas condensate pipeline, Bayelsa State, internal corrosion, pipeline integrity.