SPE

Society of Petroleum Engineers

SPE 21364

Hydrogen Sulfide Cracking of Downhole Tubulars

B. Kerm~ni, J.w. Martin, and D.F. Waite, BP Research

Copyright 1991, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Middle East Oil Show held in Bahrain, 16-19 November 1991.

This a er was selected for resentation by an SPE Program Committee following 'review of information contained in an abstract sUb~itted by the author(s). Contents of t~e paper,
as r~s~nted have not beenPreVieWed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The .ma~enal, ~s presented~ does not necessanly ref!ect
~f
an:position the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at SPE meetings are sUbjec.t to publication review by Edl!Onal Co~mlttees th~ ~Ie~
kOf
of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous ac nowe gmen
of where and by whom the paper is presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836 U.S.A., Telex, 730989 SPEDAL.

ABSTRACT
The appropriate choice of materials for well completions
in sour fields is an important factor in the economic
success of oil and gas activities. The choice is governed by
mechanical properties, resistance to both corrosion
damage and sulphide stress cracking (SSC), availability
and cost. Resistance to SSC is often the principal factor
affecting the choice of materials for H 2S containing
environments, since the occurrence of SSC can result in a
catastrophic and potentially hazardous failure. This often
necessitates the selection of highly alloyed, highly priced
materials. Therefore, it is important to have a method of
assessing candidate materials that leads to the most cost-
effective choice being made.
An alternative approach has been developed in which the
emphasis is put on failure prediction. This approach
combines the results of constant extension rate tensile
(CERT) testing with fracture mechanic assessments. On
the basis of this approach a "fitness for purpose"
evaluation of a range of materials has been undertaken,
thus allowing the selection of the most suitable/ cost-
effective material for the intended duty. Furthermore, the
present concept has led to a better definition of
operational limits of tubular goods for sour service
applications over a wide range of testing conditions.
I,
References and illustration at end of paper.
237
INTRODUCTION
The problem of sulphide stress cracking (SSC) is of
continued importance in oil and gas
exploration/production companies. This is becoming
increasingly important as wells are drilled deeper and
downhole conditions tend to become more corrosive, with
higher levels of hydrogen sulphide. In this context, the
appropriate selection and use of materials for downhole
tubulars is a principal factor in the economic success of oil
and gas exploration, production and transport systems l -5.
For SSC to occur, a combination of tensile stress and an
.. h ydrogen sulpels hid . reqwre . d l -5.
environment contammg
Hydrogen sulphide has a dual role in such cases; firstly it
results in a lowering of the pH of the environment and
secondly it catalyses the penetration of atomic hydrogen
into the material 1 . Many test methods have been
developed to assess the degree of susceptibility of
candidate materials to SSC, in an attempt to define the
suitability of materials for sour service applications.
However, such approaches are often fraught with danger.
This is because the tests have to be accelerated to produce
results within an acceptable time frame, so that the
environments and/or loads used are often unduly severe
when compared to the expected service conditions.
In this paper a brief background is presented on the causes
of SSC and the standard methods for its assessment. A
new approach is then described defining the "failure
prediction" of downhole tubulars by carrying out "fitness
2 HYDROGEN SULPHIDE CRACKING OF DOWNHOLE TUBULARS
for purpose" assessments. This approach attempts to
supply the quantified information needed to predict the
life expectancy of tubulars in sour conditions. This has
made it possible to define more closely the operational
limits of tubular goods for sour service applications over a
wide range of service conditions. Finally, the approach is
demonstrated on a number of materials often used for
H 2S containing oill gas wells. It is worth noting that, in
H2S containing environments, other forms of environment
sensitive cracking may occur apart from sulphide stress
cracking, although these have not been addressed in the
present paper.
MECHANISMS OF SCC
In service, sulphide stress cracking (SSC) will only occur in
the combined presence of tensile stress, an aqueous
environment containing hydrogen sulphide and a
susceptible material. SSC leads to a loss of ductility and
strength3,9,1O. Therefore, it is apparent that both solution
chemistry and mechanical factors are the governing
parameters in the performance of materials in sour service
conditions. The former is a prerequisite for the
availability of hydrogen at the metal surface, the latter
enhances hydrogen diffusion 2 . These two principal
parameters constitute the basis for the present approach
enabling the appropriate choice of material.
It is generally recognised that the "brittle" SSC occurs as a
result of the entry of atomic hydrogen into the metal and
its interaction with the lattice. In part, hydrogen is a
problem in most steels, because it is highly mobile as an
atom which can both diffuse through the steel and be
transported by the movement of dislocations4,5. In the
event of corrosion in an acidic aqueous solution, the
primary cathodic reaction is the evolution of molecular
hydrogen:-
[1]
The hydrogen gas in molecular form is too large to enter
the metal and is thus not harmful to steels. However, the
reduction of hydrogen ions involves the production of
hydrogen atoms through several stages and the
subsequent formation of hydrogen molecules. These
stages are as follows:-
[2]
238
SPE 21364
where H ads is the atomic hydrogen adsorbed on the
metal. This can be followed by hydrogen being absorbed
into the metal,
[3]
or forming the molecular hydrogen and being discharged
from the metal surface:-
[4]
Hydrogen sulphide is reported to discourage the
recombination of hydrogen atoms to form hydrogen gas
(Reaction 1) and hence encourage the entry of atomic
hydrogen into the metal. Once in the metal, the atomic
hydrogen will diffuse through the metal matrix (Reaction
3), where it will interact with the lattice and give rise to a
hydrogen embrittlement type process. This causes a
reduction in the strength of the metal lattice. For a
material under tensile load, there is evidence to suggest
that the atomic hydrogen concentrates at areas of stress
concentration and may give rise to crack initiation at such
points, hence leading to a brittle-type fracture. This type
of cracking can occur rapidly. It is, therefore, apparent
that even in cases where materials are to be exposed to
sour conditions for short periods of time, they must be
resistant to SSC.
Hydrogen sulphide plays a secondary role in the
environment by acidifying the corrosive medium, Le.
causing a pH shift towards the acid direction. This
increases the rate of the hydrogen evolution reaction
(Reaction 1) and hence increases the amount of hydrogen
available to enter the metal.
SSC TEST METHODS
Over the years much effort has been expended in studying
factors controlling SSC, so as to define the safe operating
limits for candidate materials in terms of the
environmental and mechanical conditions. This
knowledge is gained, in part, from service experience.
However, it is imperative that candidate materials are
assessed in the laboratory prior to their application in the
field, so that costly and potentially hazardous failures are
avoided.
In general, laboratory studies have been centred around
the original NACE standard test method, TM-01-nf'. This
involves applying a predetermined static load to the
smooth tensile test-piece and then placing it in a
SPE' 21364 M B KERMANI, J W MARTIN AND D F WAITE
deaerated, acidified 5% sodium chloride solution (initial
pH 2.9) saturated with hydrogen sulphide at ambient
pressure and temperature. If no failure or cracking occurs
within 720 hours at a stress level of 80% of the specified
minimum yield stress (SMYS), this is often considered as a
"pass" and the material deemed suitable for use in sour
service. In this test method, no attempts are made to
determine the operating limits of the material with respect
to stress levels and/or environmental conditions.
Many workers have tried to refine the NACE test method
by using it to measure the "threshold engineering stress"
below which SSC should not occur4. This often takes the
form of a plot of the time required to produce failure (tf)
in smooth specimens versus the engineering stress levels
in NACE solution, as schematically represented in Figure
1. However, the engineering stress is not an accurate
measure of the mechanical driving force for crack
propagation, since it does not relate to the stress at the tip
of the crack where the SSC process operates. More
recently the validi~of a threshold stress has been brought
into question 1,5, . The main reason for this is that
materials can contain flaws and lor manufacturing defects
that act as stress raisers, thus increasing the local stresses
above any threshold stress value. This results in a
reduction in the crack initiation period and hence
unexpected failures. Furthermore, materials are likely to
be subjected to variable and complex stresses in service
that cannot be modelled using a simple engineering stress.
Many other methods have also been used and an inclusive
methodology is now available8. However, most of these
methods lack quantified information that can be used to
predict the life expectancy of tubulars for sour service
applications, although one paper has put forward a
simplified method of detecting the susceptibility to SSC3.
This method has correlated thickness normalised
hydrogen flux permeation with normalised strain to
failure data extracted from constant extension rate tensile
testing, by means of which susceptibility to SSC has been
realistically characterised3.
THE APPROACH TO SSC FAILURE PREDICTION
In the present approach, the principal emphasis has been
placed on the two main parameters which affect SSC
performance of alloys. These are mechanical variables,
introduced by the stress, and chemical variables. The
approach allows the selection of the most suitable and cost
239
3
effective material. These two parameters are defined in
detail in the following sections. This is followed by a
description of the concept in carrying out a fracture
mechanics assessment of tubular goods.
Solution Chemistry
In deference to the foregoing, it is apparent that factors
which promote hydrogen embrittlement would in turn
affect the SSC behaviour of materials. This includes
factors which affect hydrogen availability, entry and its
transport within the metal lattice. Thus the solution
chemistry, as portrayed by its acidity, can govern the
performance of materials in sour environments. Solution
acidity in the presence of sulphide ions (sour
environments) both facilitates the hydrogen evolution
reaction, making it the dominant cathodic reaction, and
enhances the amount of hydrogen absorbed within the
lattice, thus increasing the degree of susceptibility to SSe.
Therefore, a knowledge of solution chemistry, and in
particular the in-situ pH, can lead to the establishment of
the SSC performance of materials. This in turn leads to a
better definition of materials suitability for sour service
exposure. This places the usefulness of the NACE solution
(acidified 5% NaCl solution with an initial pH of 2.9) in
doubt. This has been confirmed by several recent
systematic studies 2,3,10 showing that the NACE test
solution is too severe to represent all possibilities of
service exposure. Consequently the use of NACE test
solution tends to favour the application of higher
performance materials with an attendant cost penalty.
The important role of in-situ pH in determining the SSC
behaviour of materials has been addressed progressively
and assertively by NACE, although no recommendation
has yet been put forward. This is mainly due to the
practical problem of identifying the in-situ pH, simply and
correctly, although simplified means of determining the
in-situ pH have been addressed10.
In the present study a solution of 50 gil NaCl + 50 meq/l
sodium acetate (NaCH3COO) was used in assessing the
SSC performance of materials. The range of pH, obtained
by addition of acetic acid, included 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5.
The solution was saturated with a gas containing a
mixture of H 2S and CO2, enabling the use of different H 2S
partial pressures in the range 1 to 10,000 mbar2. Details of
the solution chemistry are given elsewhere2.
The environmental variables used in obtaining both
qualitative and quantitative information have been
4 HYDROGEN SULPHIDE CRACKING OF DoWNHOLE TUBULARS
restricted to pH and hydrogen sulphide partial pressures,
as these have been found to be the most important
parameters in determining the SSC resistance of
materials 2 . In all cases the temperature was taken as
ambient (23 0 C), as this is the "worst case" expected in
service for the occurrence of SSC. Increasing the
temperature has been found to reduce the susceptibility to
sse, presumably by enhancing the hydrogen
recombination reaction (Reaction 4) and hence reducing
the amount of absorbed hydrogen by the material.
The results have been plotted in a graph correlating
solution pH with H 2S partial pressure in a domain type
relationship 3. The graph has been divided into three main
domains, each characterising the materials suitability for
sour service applications with respect to their SSC
behaviour. These domains are designated by the terms
"Non-sour", "Transition" and "Sour". The domains will
characterise the suitability of different materials and
tubular goods. Based on these results, it is possible to
identify the appropriate environmental conditions most
relevant to the service limits of steels most frequently used
for completion tubing. This approach has led to the
selection of the most suitable and cost effective materials
for sour service applications 2.
Mechanics
Two techniques have been used to evaluate the SSC
behaviour of materials and provide qualitative and
quantitative information on the performance of materials
exposed to sour service environments. The former is
delivered through constant extension rate tensile (CERT)
testing. This method is used as a rapid and efficient
method of ranking materials with respect to their
resistance to the environment under consideration.
Quantitative information is provided by means of a
fracture mechanics approach. The fracture mechanics
approach is utilised to define the threshold stress intensity
(KIscc) value for the material in the environment under
consideration. In identifying KIssc many methods are
available which employ precracked specimens. The data
is classified in two manners. Firstly, the time to failure is
plotted as a function of stress intensity factor, as
schematically shown in Figure 2. In the second method
crack growth rate is represented as a function of the
instantaneous stress intensity factor, in the fashion shown
in Figure 3. KIssc values are then extracted from the data
shown in Figures 2 and 3. In the present tests Double
cantilever beam (DCB) specimens of the type shown in
240
SPE 21364
Figure 4 are used to define the KIssc. In DCB specimens,
the stress intensity factor (K I ) decreases with crack
extension. Details of this method are described
elsewhere1,8,12. The KIssc value represents the threshold
stress intensity factor below which the material can be
used without risk of failure due to sse; it is this value that
is used in the failure prediction. On the basis of the KIssc
value, the maximum operational limits which can be
tolerated by the material can be defined in the presence of
known or assumed defect/flaw sizes for the environment
under consideration. The approach is presented in detail
in a separate paper1 and briefly described herewith.
Qualitative Information: Constant Extension Rate
Tensile (CERn Testing
The CERT experimental method and technique is
described elsewhere1-3,l1. Briefly, it involves pulling a
tensile test-piece at a very slow nominal strain rate (in the
present case 10- 6 / s) in the environment under
consideration. The principle of the technique is that,
under the very slow strain rates and high applied strains,
environmental sensitive cracking (ESC) will be
encouraged and manifest itself as a reduction in the
ductility of the material, the greater this reduction of
ductility, the higher the susceptibility of the material to
ESC. Many methods have been used to assess the results
of CERT tests to identify the degree of materials
susceptibility to ESC. In the present case the parameter
used is the "normalised strain to failure", i.e. the ratio of
elongation to fracture in solution to that in air. This has
been found to provide the most sensitive means of
assessing SSC and was, therefore, used to rank materials.
The CERT method provides an efficient and rapid method
for ranking materials. However, it cannot provide
quantitative data that can be applied in determining the
operating limits of a material." This is because CERT
testing is a relatively severe test method, as a result of
imposing stressing conditions that are often well beyond
those expected in service.
Quantitative Information: Threshold Stress Intensity
Factor (K Issc) Evaluations
Intensification of the stress field near a crack tip in a linear
elastic medium can be characterised by a single parameter,
the stress intensity factor (K). The function of K is to
quantify the stress in a manner that is relatable to the
SPE 21364 M B I<ERMANI, JW
geometry of both the component and the crack. In an . internal pressure and stress concentration factors (SCF)
infinite plate having a crack length 2a which is normal to a due to the threaded connections l4 . Generally, flaws in
"remote" tensile stress field of magnitude <'1, the stress
intensity factor can be defined by the equation:-
K = Y <'1 (x a)O.S [S]
where Y is a polynomial factor that accounts for the
geometry.
Therefore, it is apparent that the stress intensity factor
does not by itself provide independent new knowledge
about SSC; it simply provides a usable method for
considering the stress field in the presence of a crack.
For many materials in sour environments a threshold
stress intensity factor (KIssc) can be defined, below which
SSC is unlikely to occur for the material/environmental
conditions being considered. This is a more realistic
parameter when addressing materials performance, since
it takes into consideration the stress state at the head of a
crack and/or defect.
Many methods can be used to determine the KIssc value.
In the present case a Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) test
specimen was used. The sample configuration is shown in
Figure 4. A precracked specimen was loaded to a
predetermined stress by means of a bolt or wedge, which
provided an initial constant displacement during the test.
The specimen was then placed in the environment of
interest. As the crack extends due to SSC the load, and
hence the stress intensity factor, decreases until it reaches
the KIssc value beyond which the crack will not grow. By
measuring the final crack length and from a good
knowledge of the compliance behaviour the K1ssc value
can be calcu1atedI2.
FRACTURE MECHANICS ASSESSMENT
In carrying out a fracture mechanics assessment and
fitness for purpose evaluation of tubular goods, two
principal parameters need to be taken into consideration,
the type of stresses imposed on tubulars and the defect
sizes and their orientations. Figure S illustrates the types
of stress imposed on tubular goods and the types of flaws
or cracks which rna)': be present in them; these are defined
clearlyelsewhere1,14. The stresses imposed on tubular
goods include axial stress, bending stress, residual stress,
MARTIN AND D F WAITE 5
tubular goods are the result of the manufacturing process
or handling damage, such as tong marks. As such, all
tubulars will normally contain some flaws and/or defects.
The failure prediction method takes as its starting point
the fact that the K1ssc value represents the maximum
permissible stress intensity factor that should be imposed
on the tubular goods. Therefore, by replacing K with
KIssc in equation S the maximum permissible <'1 which can
be tolerated by tubulars without risk of SSC failure was
identified. This was then be used to define the operational
limits of the tubular goods in terms of applied stress
and/or pressure for known surface flaw sizes.
For the purpose of this fracture mechanics evaluation, the
flaw depth was taken as 12.S% of the specified wall
thickness. This represents the acceptance limit for the SRI
non-destructive inspection criteria for casing and tubing in
API SCT I 3. Two types of surface flaw have been
considered (Figure S):-
Longitudinal flaws
Transverse (circumferential) flaws
For transverse flaws in threaded sections the stress
concentration effect of the threads also needs to be
considered.
Stresses which are active on the transverse flaws/ defects
include the axial stress, residual stress and SCF due to the
threaded connections. The stresses which act on the
longitudinal flaws/ defects are hoop stresses as a result of
the internal pressure. With the exception of axial stress
and the internal pressure, the other stresses are known.
Therefore, this information can be used in conjunction
with equation (S) and evaluations of the KIssc values to
define the maximum allowable axial stress levels and
internal pressures for any material/ environment
combination in the manner described in a separate paper1.
This concept as simplified in Figure 6, was used in
defining the maximum permissible operational limits of a
range of downhole materials, including a range of
corrosion resistant alloys. The operational limits of
several size casings and tubings have been identified and
presented in Tables 1 and 2 for longitudinal and
241
6 HYDROGEN SULPHIDE CRACKING OF DoWNHOLE TUBULARS
transverse defects, respectively. These are calculated for a
grade LSO carbon steel based on a KIssc of 33 MPa m°.s,
which was found to be the minimum property of materials
suitable for sour service exposure2 . In calculating the
operational limits for different tubular size and grades,
different crack aspect ratios (crack depth/ crack length)
were taken into consideration. The limits specified in
Tables 1 and 2 correspond to a no failure condition
wherein tubulars can be used with no risk of failure due to
sse. The maximum permissible axial stresses presented
in Table 2 were calculated for a VAM type threaded
connection. In this situation the stress concentration factor
(SCF) was taken to be 4. This was derived from the
published data on a somewhat similar thread profile, as
described elsewhere14.
It is apparent form both Tables 1 and 2 that maximum
operational limits are strongly influenced by the presence
of SCF, dog-legs and aspect ratios. For ease of
comparison, in each Table a column has been assigned to
the test pressure rating and the design rating. These were
extracted from API Spec SCT and refer to the maximum
operational limits for the occurrence of mechanical brittle
type failure.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the discussion and methodology reported in this
paper the following principal conclusions are reached.
1. Assessment of materials by a combination of CERT
and DCB testing has led to defining qualitative and
quantitative information on the SSC performance of
tubular goods in sour service conditions. The
approach adopted incorporates the ease of the
former with the accuracy of fracture mechanics.
2. Solution pH and H 2S partial pressure have been
shown to be the focusing points in defining the effect
of solution chemistry on the sse performance of
materials. The domain relationship correlating these
two parameters has led to defining the most
appropriate and cost-effective materials for sour
service duty.
3. The fracture mechanics evaluation has led to a
definition of the maximum operational limits which
can be tolerated by tubular goods, hence providing
vital information on the long term performance of
242
SPE 21364
materials in downhole exposure conditions.
RECOMMENDATIONS
On the basis of information presented in this paper, there
are two principal recornrnendations:-
1. In establishing the suitability of materials for sour
service applications, a realistic simulation of the field
environment, in particular the in-situ pH, should be
made. This will enable the selection of most suitable
material for specific duty.
2. The use of fracture mechanics assessment of tubular
goods should be included when designing
completion tubing. This will lead to the
identification of the most appropriate material for
downhole exposure. This concept also provides
information for identifying operational1imits of
tubulars in situations of well souring and/ or the
assessment of performance in short exposure to sour
environments.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to thank both BP Exploration and BP
Research for their permission to publish this work.
REFERENCES
1. Kermani, M.B and MacCuish, R.G., "Materials Assessment for
SourService Applications "Society of Petroleum Engineers,
SPE 20457, Vol. 0, pp. 525-535, New Orleans (1990)
2. Kermani, M.B., Harrop, D., Truchon M.L.R. and Crolet, J.L.,
"Experimental Limits of Sour Service for Tubular Steels",
NACE Annual Conference, Corrosion '91, Paper No. 21,
Cincinnati, Ohio (1991)
3. Kermani, M.B., Harrop, MacCuish, R.G. and Vera, J.R.,
"Sulphide Stress Cracking of Downhole Tubular Steels",
NACE Annual Conference, Corrosion '91, Paper No. 271,
Cincinnati, Ohio (1991)
4. "H2S Corrosion in Oil & Gas Production - A Compilation of
Classic Papers", RN. Tuttle and R.D. (Russ) Kane, oos., NACE
(1981)
5. "Current Solutions to Problems in Steels", Proceeding of the
First International Conference, e.G. Interrante and G.M.
Pressouyre, oos., ASM (1982)
SPE 21364 M B KERMAN!, JW MARTIN AND D F WAITE 7

6. NACE Standard TM"()l-77, "Laboratory Testing for Metals for

Resistance to Sulphide Stress Cracking in H 2S Environments",
National Association of Corrosion Engineers (1990)

7. Speidel, M.D., "Design Against Environment Sensitive

Fracture", Proceeding of the 3rd Int. Conf. on Mechanical
Behaviour of Materials, K.J. Miller and R.F. Smith, eds.,
Pergamon Press, ICM 3, pp 109-137 (1979)

8. National Association of Corrosion Engineers, "Laboratory

Testing for Resistance to Sulphide Stress Cracking in H2S
Environments", NACE Standard TMOl77-90 (1990)

9. Kaneko, T., Kajimura, H. and Ikeda, A., NACE Annual

Conference, Corrosion '83, Anelheim, California, Paper No.
161 (1983)

10. Crolet, J.L. and Bonis, M.R., NACE Annual Conference,

Corrosion '89, Paper No. 17, New Orleans, Luisiana (1989)

11. "Stress Corrosion Cracking; The Slow Strain Rate Technique",

C.M. Ugiansky and J.H. Payer, OOs., ASTM STP 665 (1979)

12. Heady, R.B., "Evaluation of Sulphide Corrosion Cracking

Resistance in Low Alloy Steels", Corrosion, Vol. 33, pp. 98-107
(1977)

13. American Petroleum Institute, "Specification for Casing and

Tubing", API Specification 5CT (1988)

14. Kermani, M.B. and McKendrick, R.D., "Toughness

Requirement for Downhole Tubulars", Society of Petroleum
Engineers, SPE 19555, Vol. 0, pp. 357-372 (1989)

243
SPE 21 36 4

TABLEt

Maximum Permissible Internal Pressure of Grade LBO Carbon Steel Tubings

PLAIN END
TIJBULAR HYDROSTATIC MAXIMUM PERMISSmLE INTERNAL
SIZE TEST PRESSURE PRESSURE
AND RATING (MPa)
{psi}
WEIGHT (MPa) d/c=O.1 d/c = 0.5 d/c=0.6
{psi}
5",18.0Ib/ft 64 35 39 40
{9300} {SOBO} {5660} {5800}
4.5", 13.51b/ft 56 40 44 45
(82oo) {5800} (6390) (6530)

4.5", 12.61b I ft 53 40 44 44.5

{7700} (5800) (6390) {646O}
271s", 6.5lb/ft 67 58 63 64
(97oo) (8420) {914O} {9290}

Note: d is the crack depth and c is half the crack length.

TABLE 2

Maximum Permissible Axial Stress of Grade LBO Carbon Steel Tubings

DESIGN
TIJBULAR RATING MAXIMUM PERMISSmLE AXIAL STRESS
SIZE (MPa)
AND (psi)
WEIGHT (MPa) With With No Without
{psi} 6°/100 ft DogLeg Considering
DogLeg Dog-Leg
and Thread
SCF
5",18.0 lb/ft 345 102 113 408
(SOOOO) (l4800) (l6400) (59230)
4.5", 13.5 lb I ft 345 130 140 520
(SOOOO) (18870) {20320} (75490)
4.5", 12.6 lb I ft 345 128 138 513
{SOOOO} (185BO) (20030) (74480)
27 Is", 6.5lb/ft 345 154 160 588
{SOOOO} (22360) (23230) (85360)

Note: SCF is stress concentration factor

Calculations are made for aid = 0.6 and residual stress 113 mini-
mum specified yield stress.

244
 SPE 21 36 It

Smooth specimen ... Precracked specimen

~
en data data
~
1;)
en

0)
-
~
"00
c: c:
"L:

.£
CD
CD -
CD
c:
en
0) en
e-n
c: ~
W

Time to failure Time to failure

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the conventional Figure 2. Schematic representation of sulphide stress
means of illustrating sulphide stress cracking cracking behaviour using pre-eracked specimens.
behaviour using smooth specimens.

~
[Q
B"
0< ,-L 9.5

~ T
"
(;) 30° incline
B
CD~
"0 .-
:c8
0.-
Part section BB Section AA
-CD A
:::::s > A
en
0)

.9
1~ 1
1
I· 100
·1
Crack-tip stress
intensity (K)

Figure 3. Schematic representation of sulphide stress crack Figure 4. Double cantilever beam (DeB) specimen
growth rate as a function of stress intensity factor geometry. .
using pre-cracked specimens.

245
SPE 21364

Bending stress
(Dog-leg severity)
t Hoop stress
(Hydrostatic pressure
+ residual stress)

Axial stress Transverse defect

(Including residual
stress) t
Longitudinal defect
+ Stress concentration
at the threaded areas

Figure 5. Principal types of stress and flaws/ defects in

downhole tubulars.

Material/environmental combination

Ranking with regards to the

solution chemistry and
No cracking l
H2 S partial pressure
Spot check
K losc ' da I dt vs K of
selected systems
Fracture mechanics
evaluations 1---------

Operational limits with regards to

defect sizes and orientations

Figure 6. The overall approach in providing qualitative

and quantitative information for the selection of
materials for sour service applications.

246