Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Corrosion of extraction equipment in the oil and gas industry is a costly problem. Improved economic opportunities within the oil and gas industry are accessible if corrosion can be mitigated. It is known that coatings on the metal fixtures can help to address corrosion problems, which often result from microbial blooms that alter the pH of the drilling environment. Present industrial solutions rely upon the use of surfactants to protect metal equipment. However, a more attractive and potentially environmentally friendly solution would feature anti-microbial coatings that are adhered to the metal equipment. Ideally these coatings would act as a barrier between the well enviroment and the equipment. In order to have robust coatings, the prefered materials would feature functionality that can adhere to the metal surface. Furthermore, the coating should posess anti-microbial properties. For such applications, polymers or coatings that posess amines or quaternary ammonium centers are ideal for both anti-microbial activity as well as adhering to the inherent negative charge that is present on the metal oxide surface. Recent advances in the Schafer laboratory have resulted in new ways of making amine containing polymers and coatings. Specifically a new catalyst system that features the use of the metal tantalum can mediate the efficient synthesis of amine containing building blocks that can then undergo further catalysis to make a polymer. The resultant polymers represent a new class of materials with controlled incorporation of amines or quaternary ammonium centers. As such, these new materials hold promise as potential new coatings for corrosion inhibition. This proposal will be exploring the synthesis of various derivatives and their exploration as potential corrosion inhibitors for the oil and gas exploration industry.In this project a series of new materials will be prepared and shipped to Shell for anti-corrosion testing. Samples will be shipped each month and on-going discussions between the experimental teams at UBC and Shell will collaboratively design new materials to be tested against performance objectives in anti-corrosion testing for the duration of the project. Successful identification of prefered materials will result in efforts to economically prepare the material on kg scale.