Evaluation of the seabed temperature corrosion and sulphide stress cracking (SSC) resistance of weldable martensitic 13% chromium stainless steel (WMSS)

Dent, Philip Nigel (2016). Evaluation of the seabed temperature corrosion and sulphide stress cracking (SSC) resistance of weldable martensitic 13% chromium stainless steel (WMSS). University of Birmingham. M.Phil.

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Abstract

Weldable Martensitic 13% Chromium Stainless Steels (WMSS) are used for mildly sour welded flowlines in the oil and gas industry as an alternative to inhibited carbon steel or lined pipe. Sulphide Stress Cracking (SSC) and electrochemical testing has been undertaken on parent weldable martensitic 13% chromium stainless steel (WMSS) pipe in grade LC80-130S (API 5CT) supplied by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC). SSC tests have been conducted at the ambient (24 °C) and seabed (5 °C) temperatures in two solutions and in two H2S concentrations with specimens tested in the as received and 600 SiC ground conditions. In addition electrochemical testing has been carried out to correlate the SSC behaviour with the passivity of the material.

The material was found to be more susceptible to SSC at 5 °C compared to ambient temperature and the cracking performance was influenced by the surface condition; with the 600 SiC ground surface having a detrimental effect on the SSC resistance.The electrochemical investigations did not reveal a correlation between the passivity of the material and the increased cracking susceptibility at 5 °C, although differences in the electrochemical behaviour between the as received and 600 SiC ground surfaces were observed.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Phil.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Phil.

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