Failure of Pump–Compressor Pipes in Highly Aggressive Oil-Field Media

Abstract

The mechanisms and kinetics of the corrosion-mechanical failure of pump–compressor pipes made of a chromium–molybdenum 15Kh5MFBCh steel in oil-field media with high CO₂ and H₂S contents and bacterial contamination are studied. The carbon dioxide corrosion resistance of the 15Kh5MFBCh steel is shown to be an order of magnitude higher than that of traditionally used manganese 35G2S-type steels. A passivating film, which mainly consists of chromium oxides, forms at the metal–corrosion product interface in CO₂-saturated media, and iron sulfide layers additionally form in the media saturated by CO₂ and H₂S. These layers break the protective film and degrade the corrosion resistance of the steel.