Field Experience With Cracking of High Strength Steels In Sour Gas and Oil Wells^⋆: A Report of Technical Practices Committee 1-G

This is a report by Committee TP-1G on accumulated field experience of several companies with corrosion cracking of oil well tubular goods and wellhead fittings in sour gas and oil wells. This cracking effect has been associated principally with use of high-strength steels in sour gas-condensate wells. Although relatively few failures have been experienced, the problem is a serious one in view of the high pressures involved and the rapid, unpredictable nature of the corrosive attack. Descriptions of failed tubing, casing, and wellhead fittings are given together with data obtained from stressed specimens of various alloys placed in flowlines of wells in several fields. These data show that sulfide corrosion cracking is associated with alloys of high strength, i.e., high hardness, and that the effects may vary among individual wells owing to differing producing conditions and fluid compositions. Possible remedial measures are discussed.