Specific features of hydrogen-induced corrosion degradation of steels of gas and oil pipelines and oil storage reservoirs

• DOI: 10.1007/s11003-011-9390-9
• Publication Date: 2011-11-16T22:56:11Z
• Authors: E. I. Kryzhanivs’kyi; H. M. Nykyforchyn
• Keywords: 0205 materials engineering; 02 engineering and technology

We analyze general regularities of degradation of the mechanical and corrosion-mechanical properties of steels of oil and gas main pipelines and oil storage reservoirs after 28–40 years of operation. The transported oil product not only causes corrosion damages of the internal surface of pipelines and reservoirs, but also becomes a source of hydrogenation of the metal. As a result, it degrades already under the long joint action of mechanical load and hydrogen. Changes in (degradation of) the mechanical properties of the sections of a pipe or a reservoir that contact with the transported medium during operation indicate this fact. First of all, this manifests itself as embrittlement of the metal, i.e., as decreases in the plasticity and resistance to fracture. Comparison assessment of operated and nonoperated steels showed the high sensitivity of the electrochemical properties to the state of the metal, which offers prospects for the development of electrochemical methods for assessing its in-service degradation.