The Influence of Multiple Welding Repairs of Pipelines in Residual Stress Assessment Related to Stress Corrosion Cracking

The effect of residual stress of multiple welding repairs in seamless API 5L X52 on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility was evaluated. Four repairs of the girth weld were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) on the internal face of the pipe to measure residual stresses in longitudinal and circumferential direction. Residual stresses in the circumferential and longitudinal direction reach values of about 77% and 58% of the UTS (460 MPa) respectively, approaching to the YS of the steel (360 MPa). It was observed that its magnitude increases as move away from weld center line. SCC susceptibility of X52 steel welded joints with the residual stresses generated was evaluated through slow strain rate tests (SSRT) in a soil solution at low and high pH. Relation between mechanical properties and residual stresses on the SCC susceptibility was analyzed. SCC index obtained from the mechanical properties of SSRT indicate good SCC resistance of X52 steel exposed to soil solution at low and high pH. From these results, it is suggested that the region with high residual stresses before to generate cracks in the steel surface due to the combination of soil solution and the strain applied, should favor pitting formation and not cracking. Initiation of micro-cracks from these pits will depend on the geometrical form of the pit and the stresses state can be established at given pitting. It is suggested that initiation of micro-cracks from these pits may depend on the dissolution rate and morphology of the pitting and stresses on the bottom of the pitting. This favorable condition could appear increasing the soil exposition time of the steel and reducing the strain rate applied on the SSRT.