Stress-Corrosion Cracking Of High Strength Oil Country Tubular Goods

Major advances in fabrication and handling of oil country tubular goods have improved mechanical performance, but catastrophic failures caused by stress-corrosion cracking have been steadily increasing. Failure experience with N-80, 9 percent Ni, 9 percent Cr, and AISI 4340 tubing and N-80 casing is enumerated and the failure significance discussed. The status of the problem is discussed with respect to the corrosion mitigative measures currently available. Consideration also is given to what is needed in the future to properly apply high-strength tubular products in oil and gas well environments.3.5.8