Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) plan to simulate the operating conditions in an oil and gas field through its state-of-the-art corrosion testing facility. The facility will test various materials under diverse operating conditions, including flow conditions, operating temperatures, and pressures, plant start-up, and sudden shutdown.

Under the Institute’s Corrosion Center, the facility will primarily comprise of four oil and gas industry-based projects on both field and lab conditions. The projects cover the study of localized corrosion and sulfide stress cracking of carbon and low alloy steels in hydrogen sulfide containing environments; evaluation of coating durability in three different geological locations; corrosion under insulation monitoring; and preventing and monitoring microbiologically influenced corrosion.

Additionally, QEERI Corrosion Center provides technical consultation and services, including fitness-to-service evaluation, corrosion risk assessment, root-cause-failure analysis, corrosion management planning, and advice on material selection.

“What makes our work unique is that we can design and customize our test setups to produce environments that mimic what exactly is in the field. Sometimes, we do large-scale testing to bring every aspect into the equation when we try to find corrosion solutions, and that is where we add value to industry stakeholders. All of our research projects are market-driven and aim to solve corrosion and materials engineering challenges facing Qatar’s industry. Recently, the Center started a program focusing on the corrosion of reinforced concrete structures to expand our service to urban infrastructure sustainability in Qatar,” said Dr. Hanan Farhat, Senior Research Director at the Corrosion Center, QEERI.

Due to the harsh weather conditions prevailing in the Middle East, material selection and corrosion are the main challenges faced by this industry. As a result, comprehensive research studies are required to find an effective solution to these problems.

According to Dr. Marc Vermeersch, Executive Director at QEERI, “Our Corrosion Center aims to provide services, recommendations, and solutions to further enhance and strengthen the oil and gas industry in the country. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Research Strategy, QEERI’s mandate is to assist Qatar in tackling grand challenges related to energy, water, and the environment. We aim to secure the sustainability of industrial infrastructures in Qatar and reduce the cost of corrosion by providing the right solutions.”

QEERI’s Corrosion Center has played an active role in engaging and collaborating with stakeholders in Qatar to meet industry demands and provide their support in both technical and research aspects from the year 2019.

To know more about QEERI’s work and initiatives, please visit hbku.edu.qa/en/qeeri

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