Evaluation of high-strength Cu-Ni-Mn-Al bolting used in oil and gas service

Conference · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:268210

Andersen, O ^[1]; Joosten, M W ^[2]; Murali, J ^[3]; Milliams, D E ^[4]

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1. Statoil Research Centre, Trondheim (Norway)
2. Conoco Inc., Ponca City, OK (United States)
3. Conoco Norway Inc., Stavanger (Norway)
4. Shell International Petroleum Maatschappij B.V., Den Haag (Netherlands)

High strength bolts, nuts, studs and screws manufactured from a precipitation hardening Cu-Ni-Mn-Al alloy have experienced several failures in recent years in oilfield installations with varying degrees of severity and consequence. Such failures have been broadly attributed to Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) and Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) phenomena. A detailed test program using the Slow Strain Rate Testing (SSRT) method has been conducted to identify the various parameters which could contribute to SCC. Results indicate that the Cu-Ni-Mn-Al alloy is susceptible to SCC in a variety of environments commonly found in oilfield equipment manufacturing and field installations such as amine-containing additives, sulfides and even natural seawater at elevated temperatures. SSRT testing indicated, however, that, in seawater environments, low service temperatures and cathodic protection did not adversely affect the alloy`s performance. Discussion of test program results and qualitative correlations with field failures are presented.

• OSTI ID: 268210
• Report Number(s): CONF-960389-; TRN: IM9634%%282
• Resource Relation: Conference: National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) annual corrosion conference and exposition: water and waste water industries, Denver, CO (United States), 24-29 Mar 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Corrosion/96 conference papers; PB: [6615] p.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
FIELD PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
FASTENERS
FAILURES
COPPER BASE ALLOYS
STRESS CORROSION
CRACK PROPAGATION
HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
NICKEL ALLOYS
MANGANESE ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
MECHANICAL TESTS
SEAWATER
AMINES
SULFIDES
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS