Evaluation of Hydrogen Cracking Susceptibility in X120 Girth Welds

Author(s):  
M. L. Macia ◽  
D. P. Fairchild ◽  
J. Y. Koo ◽  
N. V. Bangaru

To reduce the cost of long distance gas transmission, high strength pipeline steels are being developed. Implementation of high strength pipeline materials requires the avoidance of hydrogen cracking during field girth welding. A study of hydrogen cracking in X120 girth welds has been conducted. Cracking resistance of both the weld metal and heat affected zone (HAZ) were investigated. The laboratory tests included the controlled thermal severity (CTS) test, the WIC test and the Y-groove test. In addition, multi-pass plate welds and full pipe welds were completed and examined for the presence of hydrogen cracks. The suitability of each test method for predicting cracking in X120 girth welds is determined. The morphology of hydrogen cracks in X120 girth welds is described, and the conditions necessary to prevent hydrogen cracking are identified. Following the laboratory studies, construction of X120 pipelines without cracking was demonstrated through a 1.6 km field trial.

Author(s):  
Hitoshi Asahi ◽  
Takuya Hara ◽  
Eiji Tsuru ◽  
Hiroshi Morimoto ◽  
Yoshio Terada ◽  
...  

High-pressure operation through high strength linepipe reduces long distance transportation cost of natural gas. In order to maximize the cost reduction, X120 UOE pipe has been developed. Low C-Mo-B steel with fine-grained lower bainite (LB) microstructure realizes high strength, excellent low temperature toughness and good weldability. The technology was verified in small-scale commercial production or “mini-rolls”. Suitability for use as linepipe was demonstrated through an extensive development program that covers burst test, fracture toughness evaluation, girth welding technology, etc. A demonstration line was successfully constructed using the pipes manufactured in the “mini-rolls”.


Author(s):  
Sheida Sarrafan ◽  
Farshid Malek Ghaini ◽  
Esmaeel Rahimi

Developments of high strength steels for natural gas pipelines have been in the forefront of steelmaking and rolling technology in the past decades. However, parallel to such developments in steel industry, the welding technology especially with regards to SMAW process which is still widely used in many projects has not evolved accordingly. Decreasing carbon equivalent has shifted the tendency of hydrogen cracking from the HAZ to the weld metal. Hydrogen cracking due to its complex mechanism is affected by a range of interactive parameters. Experience and data gained from field welding of pipeline construction projects indicated that weld metal hydrogen cracking is related to welding position as it occurs more in the 6 o’clock position of pipeline girth welds. In this research an attempt is made to open up the above observation in order to investigate the contributory factors such as welding position and welding progression in terms of diffusible hydrogen and possibly residual stress considerations. It was observed that transverse cracks produced in laboratory condition may not be detected by radiography. But, the higher tendency for cracking at 6 o’clock position was confirmed through bend test. It is shown that more hydrogen can be absorbed by the weld metal in the overhead position. It is shown that welding progression may also have a significant effect on cracking susceptibility and it is proposed that to be due to the way that weld residual stresses are developed. The observations can have an important impact on planning for welding procedure approval regarding prevention of transverse cracking in pipeline girth welds.


Author(s):  
Bill Bruce ◽  
Jose Ramirez ◽  
Matt Johnson ◽  
Robin Gordon

This paper presents the results of a project jointly funded by PRCI and EWI to evaluate the welding of X100 pipe grades using commercially available welding consumables. The welding trials included manual, semi-automatic and mechanized welding procedures. It was found that the combination of Pulsed GMAW and ER100S-1 (using a mixed shielding gas) produced both excellent Charpy impact and CTOD performance, but could result in undermatched girth welds if the pipe significantly exceeds minimum strength requirements. Although ER120 S-1 provides an additional margin of safety in strength, which should accommodate variations in X-100 pipe properties, the toughness results were marginal at −10°C. The risk of weld metal hydrogen cracking in X100 girth welds was also investigated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 01008
Author(s):  
Mark Kovalev ◽  
Ekaterina Alekseeva ◽  
Nikita Shaposhnikov ◽  
Anton Povyshev

Galvanizing is one of the most common methods of corrosion protection. For the deposition of zinc coatings used such methods as gas-thermal deposition, thermal diffusion saturation in powder, hot-dip galvanizing, cladding, and galvanic precipitating during electrolysis. The hot-dip galvanizing is the most common method, which is used in construction, automotive and other industries. Paper presents the results of research of zinc coatings used in sea conditions. The aim of the work was to determine an acceleration factor by comparing the corrosion rate in laboratory conditions with the data from field tests. Laboratory studies were carried out in a salt fog chamber. Samples were periodically removed from chamber to build the dependence of the corrosion rate on the exposure time. Field tests were carried out at the exploitation area. Result of the work is a guide that allows to predict the corrosion rates of zinc coatings using laboratory tests. The advantage of this test method is shorter time of exposure in comparison with field test.


Author(s):  
Hidenori Shitamoto ◽  
Eiji Tsuru ◽  
Hiroyuki Nagayama ◽  
Nobuaki Takahashi ◽  
Yuki Nishi

Application of API X80 grade line pipes has been promoted to reduce a construction cost of the pipeline. Assessment of the strain capacity of X80 submerged arc welded (SAW) pipe is required for strain-based design (SBD). Long distance gas pipelines are usually constructed using girth welded line pipes. In the assessment of the strain capacity, it is important to keep over-matching at girth welds. However, since strength variation exists in base metal and girth weld metal, the value of the matching ratio also changes. In this study, X80 SAW pipes produced by the UOE process were welded under slightly over-matching condition and full-scale pipe bending test of the girth welded pipe was performed to evaluate the effect of the matching ratio on the strain capacity.


Author(s):  
Susan R. Fiore ◽  
James A. Gianetto ◽  
Mark G. Hudson ◽  
Suhas Vaze ◽  
Shuchi Khurana ◽  
...  

The primary objectives of this program were to provide a better understanding of the factors that control strength and toughness in high strength steel girth welds and to develop optimized welding consumables and welding procedures for high strength pipelines. The initial work on the program involved developing cooling rate models so that optimized weld metal compositions for high-strength pipelines could be developed, ensuring that the ideal balance of strength and ductility, together with tolerance to process variations and resistance to hydrogen cracking is achieved. The model, which was developed under a companion program, uses a two-dimensional finite element approach. Complete details can be found in Reference [1]. The model predicts the cooling rates during various weld passes in narrow groove welding of X80 and X100 pipes. Using this model, along with experimental datasets, a neural network model was developed which has been used to predict weld metal properties for various weld metal compositions. Based on the predictions, eight target compositions were selected and were manufactured by one of the team partners. The results of mechanical property testing showed that it was possible to develop weld metal compositions which exceeded the target yield strength of 820 MPa and also provided excellent toughness (>50J at −60°C). It was also found that the weld metal yield strength measured close to the ID of the pipe was significantly higher than that which was measured closer to the OD of the pipe. Complete mechanical property results, including results for round-bar and strip tensiles, CVN impact toughness, microhardness and more, are presented.


Author(s):  
L. N. Pussegoda ◽  
D. Begg ◽  
R. Lazor

Transverse weld metal cracking has been occasionally observed in girth welds on large diameter thick wall pipelines that utilize high strength steels. The cracks are typically in the last one or two layers of the weld, and are not necessarily surface-breaking cracks. These cracks are a serious concern as they are parallel to the pipe axis, an orientation that is perpendicular to the hoop stress due to pipeline operation. Weldability tests have been developed or modified in recent years that were intended to specifically examine the tendency for cracking in multipass welds. Test methods are somewhat similar in that a multilayer full-thickness weld is deposited in a restrained (or self-restrained) weld joint, followed by examination to determine the occurrence of cracking after a specified delay period. The primary objective of this study has been to develop a test method that can then be used to compare the incidence of cracking to hydrogen-induced cracking prediction methods (for example delay time), also allowing one to develop welding conditions that would avoid cracking of field welds during pipeline construction. This could be achieved in two ways; a) determining delayed cracking time, and b) assessing the effects of pre-heat and interpass temperature. The test has been successful in producing transverse cracks in the top layers of the fill passes, similar to the cracking that has been observed on thick weldments in high strength steels. The test has been instrumented to assess the restraint level and also to attempt to detect cracking. The cracking has also been detected by UT and subsequent sectioning.


2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Starr ◽  
Calin-Cristian Cormos ◽  
Evangelos Tzimas ◽  
Stathis Peteves

A hydrogen energy system will require the production of hydrogen from coal-based gasification plants and its transmission through long distance pipelines at 70 � 100 bar. To overcome some problems of current gasifiers, which are limited in pressure capability, two options are explored, in-plant compression of the syngas and compression of the hydrogen at the plant exit. It is shown that whereas in-plant compression using centrifugal machines is practical, this is not a solution when compressing hydrogen at the plant exit. This is because of the low molecular weight of the hydrogen. It is also shown that if centrifugal compressors are to be used in a pipeline system, pressure drops will need to be restricted as even an advanced two-stage centrifugal compressor will be limited to a pressure ratio of 1.2. High strength steels are suitable for the in-plant compressor, but aluminium alloy will be required for a hydrogen pipeline compressor.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Taub ◽  
Emmanuel De Moor ◽  
Alan Luo ◽  
David K. Matlock ◽  
John G. Speer ◽  
...  

Reducing the weight of automobiles is a major contributor to increased fuel economy. The baseline materials for vehicle construction, low-carbon steel and cast iron, are being replaced by materials with higher specific strength and stiffness: advanced high-strength steels, aluminum, magnesium, and polymer composites. The key challenge is to reduce the cost of manufacturing structures with these new materials. Maximizing the weight reduction requires optimized designs utilizing multimaterials in various forms. This use of mixed materials presents additional challenges in joining and preventing galvanic corrosion.


2010 ◽  
Vol 152-153 ◽  
pp. 1058-1061
Author(s):  
Zhou Wei ◽  
Xiao Xia Zhang

A wedged load test method is used to evaluate the adhesion strength of high-strength coatings, which have been processed with various sintering parameters. In this test, for stress concentration at cut tip, cracks are always induced and expanded rapidly cross the interface between coating and substrate. Macro-fracture and SEM image of coating interface of high-strength coating are characterized using optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. In order to evaluate the bonding properties between coating and substrate effectively, corresponding finite element (FE) analysis has been conducted to evaluate the adhesion strength of high-strength coating. And stress distributions cross the interface of high-strength coating are obtained. The stress analysis can help to evaluate the bond strength of high-strength coating. Because of small specimen and contact relationship between wedged pressure head and wedged cuts, complex stress state is affected by many factors resulting from interface, and also by the thickness of coating.


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