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ML00095 - Sep.2017donated by: reference in NACE paper 07114

MIC of a Riser Control Line

The aspect of the external surface of the fitting shows regions where the passivation was lost and where microcracks started already.

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The aspect of the of the shows regions where the was lost and where started already.
M

Material

Austenitic Stainless Steel
  • ALLOY 218
  • UNS S21800
Ds

Description

The of this 3/8” hydraulic line in the annular space of a completion riser has occurred during , after the riser has been out of operation during 14 month, in stagnant conditions. An unusual case of was associated to of the nitronic , close to the to the 316 . The is not associated to the . Instead, it is clearly associated to the region where the fitting was slightly bent.

C

Chemistry (% in weight)

Fitting analysis

0.075C; 3.68Si; 8.50Mn; 0.028P; 0.003S; 16.1Cr; 8.0Ni; 0.2Mo; 0.24Cu.

Associated Images
Draft of the completion riser after removal of the external case showing the hydraulic line position where the 316 tubing is welded by orbital autogenous GTAW to the Nitronic fitting (stab). In the design of these hydraulic lines, the position of the cracking in the fitting is associated to a slightly bent condition of the fitting due to the misaligment of the tubing axis and the stab axis in the connector, visible in the draft.
1081
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Identification drawingDf - General View
Aspect of the hydraulic line samples removed from service to be analyzed. Tubing and welded joint (bottom sample) between the 316 tubing (left side of the sample) and the nitronic fitting (right side of the sample). The cracking is located 10 mm far from the weld, autogenous orbital GTAW.
108
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Aspect Before AnalysisDf - General View
Scanning electron microscopy image of the external surface of the line at the cracking position showing multiple cracks, branched, transverse to the line axis.
79
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - External Surface
Detail, by scanning electron microscopy, of the external surface of the line at the cracking position presenting branched cracks, transverse to the line axis. The surface of the fitting is fully stained (dark grey), from where the cracks start, indicating that the material loose passivation in these regions.
62
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - Branched Cracks
Detail of the welded joint between the 316 tubing (left side) and the nitronic fitting (right side). The through wall cracking is transverse to the line, in the fitting, 10 mm far from the weld, where the fitting was slightly bent to be assembled (cold bent).
65
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Aspect Before AnalysisDf - Welded Joint
The longitudinal section macrography of the welded joint sample shows that the cracks are positioned in the fitting, about 10 mm far from the weld.
60
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Macro Oxalic Acid Electrolytic EtchedDf - Longitudinal Section
As polished micrography of the hydraulic line sample in the longitudinal section, close to the outer diameter, showing that the cracks are branched and thin, opened to the external surface.
58
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Micrography by OMDf - Close to the External Surface
Base metal micrography in the longitudinal section, showing an austenitic granular structure. Ghost lines evidence the hot forming direction.
44
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Micrography by OM using A262 Method ADf - Austenite
Micrography of the longitudinal section of the line at the fusion line of the fitting, close to OD. It is possible to see that the base metal is austenitic and the weld metal is austeno-ferritic. In the center of the thickness the average hardness of the fitting is 250HV1 and the average hardness of the weld metal is 180HV1.
48
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Micrography by OM using A262 Method ADf - Fusion Line
Micrographic detail of the fusion line of the fitting, close to OD. Austenitic base metal and austeno-ferritic weld metal.
50
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Micrography by OM using A262 Method ADf - Fusion Line
Micrography of the longitudinal section of the hydraulic line sample at the cracking position, localized in the fitting and starting from the outer diameter (OD).
48
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Micrography by OM using A262 Method ADf - Branched Cracks
Micrographic detail of the branched cracks at the fitting, close to OD.
40
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Micrography by OM using A262 Method ADf - Branched Cracks
The aspect of the fitting surface by SEM shows multiple cracks. Interesting to observe a stained region (dark grey) that corresponds to regions where the material passivation was destroyed.
43
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - External Surface
Detail of one region that had the passivation layer destroyed .
45
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - External Surface
Detail of one region that had the passivation layer destroyed and presented corrosion cracks.
48
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - Corrosion Cracking
The aspect of the external surface of the fitting shows regions where the passivation was lost and where microcracks started already.
54
VIEW
ML00095 / Sep.2017
MIC of a Riser Control Line
M - Austenitic Stainless SteelP - Fabrication WeldAp - Oil and GasCd - Brittle Behavior
Cm - Surface Aspect by SEMDf - Microcracks