Corrosion monitoring in refineries is an important element of asset integrity management. Despite its importance, corrosion monitoring is often marginalized in favor of material upgrades and process modifications. Nevertheless, periodic or, preferably, continuous control of the corrosivity of important process streams should always be managed, irrespective of material or process control measures. This chapter focuses on the practical aspects of corrosion monitoring, both intrusive and non-intrusive, in major refining units such as crude distillation (atmospheric and vacuum), amine units, or hydrotreating.
Process industries employ a variety of technologies to assess the progress of corrosion, including coupons, intrusive probes utilizing Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) or Electrical Resistance (ER) technology, and non-intrusive Ultrasonic Thickness Monitoring (UT), among others. The following chapter provides a brief overview of these key corrosion monitoring technologies used in both the upstream and downstream segments of the petroleum industry. It focuses on the practical aspects of industrial applications, highlighting potential issues and operational challenges, along with various tips and tricks to help engineers and operators effectively utilize corrosion monitoring technologies.
