The stress cracking risks of both low alloy steels and corrosion resistant alloys used in corrosive oil and gas wells is discussed. The intention is to explore the relation between failure mode, test procedures, and field performance.

Historically, the risk of sulfide stress cracking of low alloy steels has been a dominant topic in materials selections for oil and gas wells. This stress induced failure is due to H2S catalyzed hydrogen absorption during exposure to corrosive aqueous solutions and has resulted in metallurgical constraints (hardness, optimum thermal processing, alloy composition control) to minimize such risks.

Today, many stainless steels and high nickel alloys are under evaluation or are in field use. The corrosive phase is an O2-free brine solution that may be produced in oil wells under CO2 flood or in deep gas wells. Heavily cold worked high strength tubulars have been specifically developed for these applications and therefore represent a new class of materials. Martensitic stainless steels and a variety of age hardenable alloys are also candidates for use in these corrosive wells. Some field failures due to stress cracking have occurred. Most information is based on laboratory studies which have identified risks of both stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement.

Subject
Stainless alloys, Valves, Nickel based alloys, Stress cracking, Cathodic charging, Tubing, Mechanical failure, Monel alloys, Sulfide stress cracking, Alloys, Stress corrosion cracking, Hydrogen, Low alloy steel
© 1986 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1986
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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