Abstract
Rapid failures of tubing in a sour condensate well led to an extensive laboratory and field investigation to determine the cause and remedy for these failures. Apparently, failures occur because of stress corrosion cracking. Embrittlement resulting from exposure to moist hydrogen sulfide is not considered a primary cause of failures, but it may have been an important contributing factor.
The exact mechanism of failure has not yet been definitely established. The failure process can be prevented or appreciably retarded by suitable heat treatment and/or change in steel composition. Susceptibility to failure of most steels is increased by plastic deformation.
In most instances failures were more rapid in field tests, which indicated that the field operating conditions involving pressure, flow, and formation water were more severe than the laboratory test conditons selected. In both tests there was little if any advantage for alloy steels over plain carbon steels. It was apparent, however, that for most steels, limitations on the maximum permissible mechanical properties are just as important and necessary as minimum, limits.
