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U.S. Department of Energy
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Characterization and monitoring of cracking of steel equipment in wet H{sub 2}S service

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OSTI ID:113471
;  [1]
  1. CLI International, Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
The results of large-scale wet H{sub 2}S exposure tests which utilized a steel pressure vessel containing various welded test plates are presented. Effect of variables including steel base plate composition, metallurgical processing, welding, applied stress and orientation were examined. Particular attention was given to (1) large-scale behavior versus that determined for small-scale laboratory test specimens under an applied tensile stress, (2) performance of conventional carbon steels versus advanced carbon steels designed for enhanced resistance to hydrogen-induced cracking (MC), and (3) the interrelationship of stress, welding and plate orientation on the susceptibility to wet H{sub 2}S cracking. Several non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques were also evaluated for their ability to detect and monitor wet H{sub 2}S cracking. NDE techniques evaluated included wet fluorescent magnetic particle testing (WFMPT), manual ultrasonic testing (MUT), automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) and on-line acoustic emission testing (AET). The results of this program have (1) provided valuable insight on the role of steel quality and microstructure on the susceptibility to wet H{sub 2}S cracking, (2) demonstrated the effectiveness of various NDE techniques in detecting and monitoring cracking of carbon steel equipment exposed to wet H{sub 2}S environments and (3) provided valuable data on the residual strengths and toughnesses of steels containing extensive wet H{sub 2}S damage.
OSTI ID:
113471
Report Number(s):
CONF-950304--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English