Electrochemical and sulfide stress corrosion cracking behaviors of tubing steels in a H₂S/CO₂ annular environment

The electrochemical and sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) behaviors of 13Cr stainless steel and P110 steel were investigated in a simulated acidic annular environment with low-temperature and high-pressure H₂S/ CO₂ using electrochemical methods, U-bend immersion tests, and scanning electron microscopy. In the solution containing high pressure CO ₂, 13Cr, and P110 steels exhibited general corrosion and severe pitting, respectively. Compared with sweet corrosion, additional H₂S in the solution enhanced the corrosion of 13Cr steel but inhibited the corrosion of P110 steel. By contrast, in a solution containing 4 MPa CO₂ and different P_H2S (0-0.3 MPa), the susceptibility of both 13Cr stainless steel and P110 steel toward SSCC was significantly promoted by increases in H₂S partial pressure. The 13Cr stainless steel exhibited higher susceptibility toward SSCC than P110 steel under a H₂S/CO₂ environment but lower susceptibility under a pure CO₂ environment.