Susceptibility Study to Hydrogen Embrittlement of Welded Joints of API 5L X52 Steel in Sulphide Media

Abstract

Pipelines for oil and gas, manufactured in high-strength low-alloy steels (HSLA), such API pipes, promote high levels of strength and fracture toughness. Therefore, it is important to ensure this high level of toughness in the welded joint. When the pipelines are exposed for many years to wet H2S environments, they can fail due to hydrogen embrittlement. Thus, it is important to evaluate the influence of different weld specifications in the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. In this case, the aim of this work was to study the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement of API 5L X52 steel and in the welded region in wet environments. The welding was performed in the circumferential direction by GMAW process in two different specifications (with lower and higher thermal input). The susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement was carried out according to NACE TM0177 and SSRT (slow strain rate tensile tests) test, performed according to ASTM G 129 standard. All welded joints and base metal did not show any signal of cracks and susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement, according to the requirements of the NACE TM0177 test. According to SSRT tensile test, the results showed that the welded joints and base metal are susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. The tensile tests exhibited a drop in the strain and necking, and higher values of yield stress. The welded joint with the lowest heat inputs employed in the welding process presented the highest susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement.