Methods for corrosion reduction in petroleum transportation and storage

A method of reducing corrosion during petroleum transportation, petroleum storage, or both, the method comprising:

• inputting a corrosion inhibitor formulation into a petroleum pipeline, a petroleum storage tank, or both, wherein the corrosion inhibitor formulation consists essentially of solvent and a pyridinium hydroxyl alkyl ether compound having a general formula:
• wherein R1 is a C1-C18 alkyl group, a C1-C18 hydroxyl alkyl group, a C1-C18 alkenyl group, a C1-C18 alkynl group, a C1-C18 acryl group, a C1-C18 cycloalkyl group, or a C1-C18 functional alkyl group;
• and
• wherein RA, RB, RC, RD, and RE are each independently chosen from hydrogen, a C1-C18 alkyl group, a C1-C18 hydroxyl alkyl group, a C1-C18 alkenyl group, a C1-C18 alkynl group, a C1-C18 acryl group, a C1-C18 cycloalkyl group, or a C1-C18 functional alkyl group.