Field test of two high-pressure, direct-contact downhole steam generators. Volume III. Metallurgical analyses
Two prototype downhole steam generator (DSG) systems were operated in an oil field environment during a test in the Wilmington Field, Long Beach, CA, from June 1981 through March 1982. One generator burned diesel fuel in air and was located downhole, the other burned diesel in oxygen and was operated on the surface. Components of the two systems experienced varying degrees of corrosion during the test. Severe degradation of certain critical components limited the operating lifetimes of both steam generators. Metallurgical analyses of degraded components were performed to determine the causes and mechanisms of corrosion of materials exposed to the diesel combustion, generator effluent, and downhole environments. Two separate analyses were conducted reflecting the two classes of attack mechanisms encountered in these environments, i.e., aqueous corrosion and mixed gas hot corrosion. Materials examined included plain carbon steel, 310 and 316 stainless steels, Inconel 600 and 625, and Hastelloy X. The degradation of combustor materials was caused primarily by fluctuations in the combustion environment, notably composition and temperature, at exposed surfaces. Most of the materials examined were found to be unsuitable for extended life in the environments to which they were exposed. Stainless steels, in particular, are not recommended for continued use in downhole steam generators. Other recommendations are provided, including alternate materials, design modifications, and changes in operating procedures, which should improve the lifetime of downhole steam generators. 83 references, 83 figures, 10 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5675224
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-83-0145/3; ON: DE84002704
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of a direct contact downhole steam generator in a field environment--final results
Field test of two high-pressure, direct-contact downhole steam generators. Volume I. Air/diesel system
Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON STEELS
CORROSION
DIESEL FUELS
COMBUSTION
HASTELLOY X
INCONEL 600
INCONEL 625
OIL WELLS
STEAM GENERATORS
STEAM INJECTION
STAINLESS STEEL-310
STAINLESS STEEL-316
FIELD TESTS
MATERIALS TESTING
AIR
CALIFORNIA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
OXYGEN
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ALLOYS
BOILERS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM STEELS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
COBALT ALLOYS
COHERENT SCATTERING
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
DATA
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
GASES
HASTELLOYS
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
INCONEL ALLOYS
INFORMATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL BASE ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
RECOVERY
SCATTERING
SPECTROSCOPY
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
TANTALUM ALLOYS
TESTING
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TUNGSTEN ALLOYS
USA
VAPOR GENERATORS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
360105 - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion