Objective To investigate the growth pattern of quinoline adsorption film on X70 steel surface in the context that the injection water with corrosion inhibitors can effectively prevent the oil devices from corrosion and the film formed on the pipeline surface can alleviate the injection water corrosion. Methods The data obtained from scratch test were calculated using high field ion conduction model by potentiostatic rapid scratch method. Results The results showed that the high field ion conduction model was only applicable for a part of adsorbing process of quinoline. The mathematic simulation by further function fitting found that the growth pattern of quinoline adsorption film on X70 steel surface in simulated media followed the equation: J( t)= C1exp(-αt) + C2exp(-βt)+C0. Conclusion At the concentration of 0. 3% , 0. 6% (mass fraction) quinoline, current fluctuated obviously and the stability of the forming film was worse. There was a possibility of local corrosion in scratch area. At the concentration of 0. 9% (mass fraction) quinoline, the goodness of fit between the simulated curve and the true current decay curve reached 0. 9983, the current fluctuated slightly and the stability of inhibitor adsorption film was better. In the injection water media, the content of quinoline was higher, the quality of the forming film was better and the difference of the current density was smaller before and after scratch. The growth state of the adsorption film on the scratch surface and no-scratch surface were in a consistent state. The quinoline adsorption film could rapidly form on the damaged steel surface at the higher concentration which had a quick and overall protective effect for the sample.