A Quantified Study of the Resistance of Duplex Stainless Steels to HISC: Part 1 - Significance of the three-dimensional phase distributions and morphological properties on hydrogen transport

This paper is associated with a larger programme of research, studying the resistance to hydrogen-induced stress cracking (HISC) of a wrought and a hot isostatically-pressed (HIP) UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel (DSS), with respect to both the independent and interactive effects of the three key components of HISC: microstructure, stress/strain, and hydrogen. In the first part presented here, several material properties such as the three-dimensional (3D) microstructure, distribution and morphology/geometry of the two phases, i.e. ferrite and austenite, and their significance on hydrogen transport have been determined quantitatively, using X-ray computed tomography (CT) microstructural data analysis and modelling. This provided a foundation for the study to compare resistance to HISC initiation and propagation of the two DSSs with differing microstructures, using hydrogen permeation measurements, environmental fracture toughness testing of single-edge notched bend test specimens, in the Part 2 paper of this study [1].

Best Practices While Testing Sour GAS Wells

Objectives/Scope The development of Abu Dhabi's sour gas is not without its challenges. Deep drilling in some fields presents its own set of difficulties due to high temp and pressures coupled with +30% H2S and +10% CO2. Handling of these corrosive reservoir fluids both while drilling and then testing, requires deploying advanced technology to meet the specific requirements of these reservoirs, along with the infrastructure necessary to handle the toxic and corrosive products while testing in a brown field safely. Methods, Procedures, Process Developing local sour gas production is seen as the answer to resolve the ever growing energy needs for UAE but the technical requirements for the project is stretching the limits of the industry. Results, Observations, Conclusions What did we do different: Developed and implemented specific HSE procedures and SIMOPS due to close proximity with major populated facilities which could not be shut-down during the testing period. Conducted multiple audits and drills with the local authorities including Civil Defense and local Police. Additional 3rd part supervision was provided to ensure all personal are complying with the policy and procedures developed. Installed 2 green burners and 2 vertical 90 ft flare stacks at 180 degrees. This was to cater for the changing wind directions for continuous operations and as back ups. CCTV monitoring for green burners / flare stacks was conducted although this was a rigless operation 3 circles of H2S detectors and sensors were placed around the testing area and the flare stakes and green burners to detect any H2S gas. (Covering all 360° directions). Blowdown/Depressurization valve was installed at separator, storage tanks apart from Automatic and manual shutdown system upon H2S detection Installed Optic Fiber cable from wellhead to the main control room for monitoring purposes All piping connections used were flange-to-flange as welded joints could have caused stress cracking on the weak points For Sour well operation, used fully cladded X-mass tree & Inconel well completion Considered setting of compatible TTBP (Thru Tubing Bridge Plug) for staked reservoirs zonal isolation Instead of coil tubing cement plug for accurate depth calculations. Arranged Special chemical for any scale cleanout for handling of elemental Sulphur. Arab zones were stimulated with specialized acid recipe developed exclusively for this temperature, pressure and sour conditions downhole. Bottom hole measurements were recorded successfully and all the necessary data was acquired. Novel/Additive Information This paper highlights the major challenges identified and mitigated to test and produce the highly sour HPHT gas during the appraisal program complying with ADNOC 100% HSE in a brown field without disturbing the other major operations being performed in the vicinity.

Hydrogen stress cracking resistance and hydrogen transport properties of ASTM A508 grade 4N

Low alloy steels combine relatively low cost with exceptional mechanical properties, making them commonplace in oil and gas equipment. However, their strength and hardness are restricted for sour environments to prevent different forms of hydrogen embrittlement. Materials used in sour services are regulated by the ISO 15156-2 standard, which imposes a maximum hardness of 250 HV (22 HRC) and allows up to 1.0 wt% Ni additions due to hydrogen embrittlement concerns. Low alloy steels that exceed the ISO 15156-2 limit have to be qualified for service, lowering their commercial appeal. As a result, high-performing, usually high-nickel, low alloy steels used successfully in other industries are rarely considered for sour service. In this work, the hydrogen stress cracking resistance of the high-nickel (3.41 wt%), quenched and tempered, nuclear-grade ASTM A508 Gr.4N low alloy steel was investigated using slow strain rate testing as a function of applied cathodic potential. Results showed that the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were unaffected by hydrogen, even at a high negative potential of -2.00 V<sub>Ag/AgCl</sub>. Hydrogen embrittlement effects were observed once the material started necking, manifested by a loss in ductility with increasing applied cathodic potentials. Indeed, A508 Gr.4N was less affected by hydrogen at high cathodic potentials than a low-strength (yield strength = 340 MPa) ferritic-pearlitic low alloy steel of similar nickel content. Additionally, hydrogen diffusivity was measured using the hydrogen permeation test. The calculated hydrogen diffusion coefficient of the ASTM A508 Gr.4N was two orders of magnitude smaller when compared to that of ferritic-pearlitic steels. Hydrogen embrittlement and diffusion results were linked to the microstructure features. The microstructure consisted in a bainitic/martensitic matrix with the presence of Cr<sub>23</sub>C<sub>6</sub> carbides as well as Mo and V-rich precipitates, which might have played a role in retarding hydrogen diffusion, kept responsible for the improved HE resistance.

Analysis of the reasons for the formation of under-collar cracks in the bushing of medium-speed combustion engines

Вибрация цилиндровой втулки, вызванная перекладкой поршня, развивает колебания вдоль по длине втулки от бурта до основания и акустические колебания внутри втулки, которые приводят к возникновению растягивающих напряжений и деформаций в поверхностных слоях металла; при взаимодействии с водой создаются условия для диффузии водорода во втулку. Диффузия водорода повышает внутреннее давление, что вызывает растрескивание структуры металла под действием напряжений. Происходит деградация металла – снижение прочностных и пластических свойств. Причиной появления подбуртовых трещин и кавитационные разрушения цилиндровой втулки является усталость деградированного металла от «водородного растрескивания под напряжением» и действия циклических растягивающих напряжений. Для повышения долговечности втулок по подбуртовым трещинам необходимо: 1. Увеличение износостойкости скользящей поверхности втулки для стабилизации величины теплового зазора; 2. Повышение жесткости втулки за счет увеличения толщины втулки в подбуртовой зоне; 3. Применение метала втулки с малой чувствительностью к «водородному растрескиванию под напряжением» (замена чугуна с пластинчатой формой графита на сферическую). The vibration of the cylinder bushing caused by the piston displacement develops the vibrations along the length of the bushing from the collar to the base and acoustic vibrations inside the collar, which lead to tensile stresses and deformation in the surface layers of the metal; when interacting with water, conditions for the diffusion of hydrogen into the bushing are created. The diffusion of hydrogen increases internal pressure, which causes the cracking of the metal structure under stress. The degradation of the metal that is the decrease in strength and plastic properties occurs. The reason for the formation of under – collar cracks and cavitation destruction of the cylinder bushing is the fatigue of the degraded metal from "hydrogen stress cracking" and the action of cyclic tensile stresses. To increase the durability of the bushings along the under – collar cracks, it is necessary to: 1. Increase the wear resistance of the sliding surface of the bushing to stabilize the value of the thermal gap; 2. Increase the stiffening effect of the bushing by increasing the thickness of the bushing in the under – collar zone; 3. Apply the metal of the bushings with low sensitivity to "hydrogen stress cracking" (replace the cast iron with lamellar graphite for the spherical one).

Peculiarities of Structure and Physical-Mechanical Properties of High-Strength Cr-Mo Pipe Steel Applicative Mainly in a Sour Environment

This paper demonstrates the results of the study of microstructure and physical-mechanical properties of the high-strength economically alloyed Fe-Cr-Mo steel, developed by RosNITI JSC for the production of the oil country tubular goods (OCTG) (casing and tubing). The main requirement for this steel is to provide simultaneous increased strength and resistance to sulfide stress cracking (SSC). It was shown that this problem could be solved by special heat treatment. As a result, the structure of this steel consists of a secondary sorbite with a lower dislocation density. Hardening is provided by dispersion-strengthened V, Nb carbides.