Abstract: The present invention relates to nitrogen-containing hydroxyethyl substituted compounds to be used as corrosion inhibitors for metal surfaces, for example in aqueous systems and in particular in oil-field applications, e.g. in oil or gas wells, and which could be used under sweet-well conditions as well as under sour-well conditions. It may also be used in oil-field acidizing and fracture-acidizing well stimulation treatment. The compounds belong to the group of partly ethoxylated fatty alkylamines, partly ethoxylated alkyletheramines and partly or fully hydroxyethyl substituted alkylamdopropylamines.