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Failure Analysis: Sulfide Stress Corrosion Cracking and Hydrogen-Induced Cracking of A216-WCC Wellhead Flow Control Valve Body

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Abstract

The wellhead flow control valve bodies which are the focal point of this failure case study were installed in some of the upstream facilities of Khangiran’s sour gas wells. These valve bodies have been operating satisfactorily for 3 years in wet H2S environment before some pits and cracks were detected in all of them during the periodical technical inspections. One failed valve body was investigated by chemical and microstructural analytical techniques to find out the failure cause and provide preventive measures. The valve body alloy was A216-WCC cast carbon steel. During investigation many cracks were observed on the inner surface of the valve body grown from the surface pits. The results indicate that flow control valve body failed due to combination of hydrogen-induced corrosion cracking and sulfide stress corrosion cracking. According to HIC and SSC laboratory tests and also with regard to cost of engineering materials, it was evident that the best alternative for the valve body alloy is A217-WC9 cast Cr–Mo steel.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank East Oil and Gas Production Company (EOGPC), the Research Council of Sharif University of Technology, and Razi Metallurgical Lab for supporting this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    S. M. R. Ziaei & A. H. Kokabi

  2. Technical Inspection Department, East Oil and Gas Production Company, Khangiran, Iran

    J. Mostowfi

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  1. S. M. R. Ziaei
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  2. A. H. Kokabi
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  3. J. Mostowfi
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Correspondence to S. M. R. Ziaei.

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Ziaei, S.M.R., Kokabi, A.H. & Mostowfi, J. Failure Analysis: Sulfide Stress Corrosion Cracking and Hydrogen-Induced Cracking of A216-WCC Wellhead Flow Control Valve Body. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 14, 376–383 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-014-9810-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-014-9810-x

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