The Behavior of Steels in Hydrogen Sulfide Environments

Abstract Spontaneous cracking of steels in deep high-pressure condensate wells producing gas containing hydrogen sulfide has been a subject for considerable investigation during the past seven or eight years. This paper presents: (1) a definition and possible mechanisms for sulfide-stress cracking of steels, (2) the methods currently being used to establish the susceptibility of steels to this phenomenon, (3) a brief summation of the significant developments from research on the problem, and (4) the measures that are currently indicated to minimize the possibilities of such failures in steel equipment. The term “sulfide-stress cracking” is preferred to the commonly used “sulfide corrosion cracking” since the phenomenon is stress dependent. The susceptibility of most constructural steels to sulfide-stress cracking can be minimized, if not eliminated, by appropriate heat treatment which must include tempering at a temperature not less than 1150 F and by limiting the maximum mechanical properties to predeter...