INFLUENCE OF H2S ON THE LOCALISED CORROSION OF 316L STAINLESS STEEL: PART 1 – COUPON TESTING

Published

April 4, 2022

Author(s)

James Hesketh, Edmund Dickinson, Gregory McMahon, May Ling Martin, Alan Turnbull, Gareth Hinds

Abstract

Corrosion coupon immersion tests were performed on 316L SS in 50,000 ppm Cl- at 110 °C to evaluate the effect of partial pressure of H2S on pit depth and density in a simulated oilfield environment. The protective film formed in these environments was analysed by nanoSIMS and shown to consist of mixed metal sulphides and oxides, the former being considered to enhance chloride ion uptake leading to more ready passivity breakdown and pit initiation. H2S is deduced to be acting primarily as a chemical agent in supporting subsequent pit propagation, adsorbing on the pit surface and constraining the repassivation process. Pitting was most severe at intermediate partial pressures of H2S. At more elevated partial pressures, pitting was inhibited, which is attributed to blocking of the pit surface by dense sulphide phases that limited access of H2S to the pit surface. Surface finish was shown to be a critical factor in pit development with specimens machine-ground to a Ra< 0.2 μm showing extensive pitting but with specimens hand-ground to a P1200 finish (Ra<0.1μm) showing very limited pitting.

Citation

National Physical Laboratory Report

Pub Type

Others

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.47120/npl.MAT92

Local Download

Keywords

corrosion, pitting, steel

Citation

Hesketh, J. , Dickinson, E. , McMahon, G. , Martin, M. , Turnbull, A. and Hinds, G. (2022), INFLUENCE OF H2S ON THE LOCALISED CORROSION OF 316L STAINLESS STEEL: PART 1 &#8211; COUPON TESTING, National Physical Laboratory Report, [online], https://doi.org/10.47120/npl.MAT92, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=934192 (Accessed April 30, 2024)