159120631, Proposal, UOS BME, Level. 3, Rev.

A, March 17, 2017

Overview

Oil & Gas Equipment such as Pressure Vessel does operating to wet sour service. Sour service
refers to the sour gas H2S, or Hydrogen Sulphide, being present. The nature of H2S does limit
the equipment reliability.

Essentially, the equipment was made of steel due to cost effective and reliability. However,
when the steel exposed to H2S for a long period of time, the steel may suffers hydrogen damage.

The damage can be classified into the following types:

1. Hydrogen Blistering
2. Hydrogen Imbrittlement
3. Hydrogen Attack
4. Decarburization

All of above may leads to mechanical damage on the steel itself, which called as Hydrogen
Induced Cracking, (HIC).

HIC effect can be reduced by utilizing HIC Resistive material. The material does have refined
microstructure and low hardness value which could reduce the possibility of cracking to
happen.

However, in fabrication, joining process is required, for steel material, welding process will be
utilized. In fabrication of pressure vessel industry, two common welding processes such as
GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) and SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) are used. These
processes utilize heat to fuse the weld joint by melting the base metal together with filler metal.

The issue, when the HIC Resistance Material being exposed to heat from welding process, the
heat affected zone (HAZ) of the base metal and weld metal will having different type of
microstructure, which eventually has higher value of hardness. Any hydrogen inclusion inside
the welded material will increase the HIC effect. This is where the importance of welding
procedure comes for ensuring the resistivity of HIC is maintained.

The student will study the existing welding procedure and implement the method in achieving
the aim, to produced welding joint that has resistivity of HIC. The study will be focussed on
carbon steel material and the welding processes used are GTAW & SMAW.

The study including performing mechanical test on the welded material for justifying the
mechanical properties of welded material. HIC Test also will be performed as well to ensuring
the weld material is clean from any hydrogen inclusion.

Objectives
 159120631, Proposal, UOS BME, Level. 3, Rev. A, March 17, 2017
Major

1. To study the procedure of welding for the HIC (Hydrogen Induced Cracking) Resistance
Carbon Steel Plate. Welding Processes involved are GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)
and SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding).

Minor

1. To study method to refined the steel microstructure so that the risk of hydrogen inclusion
could be reduced.
2. To compare the mechanical properties of material when welded.
3. To justify the effectiveness of the welding procedure to reduce the HIC effect after
welding process.

Methodology

1. Study on various journal, publication, and books in order to understand the most effective
welding procedure.
2. Experimentally investigate the mechanical properties of the welded material such as Tensile
Test, Bend Test for Ductility, and Hardness Test.
3. In lab investigation by using correct experiment procedure for undergo HIC Test.
4. All result will be compiled and study on its resistivity to HIC effect based on the acceptance
criteria produced by professional publication or journal.

References

1. NACE Standard MR0175-2001, (2001) Standard Material Requirements, Sulphide Stress

Cracking Resistant Metallic Materials for Oilfield Equipment, Item No. 21304, Texas:
NACE International Corrosion Society.
2. ASME Div. II Part A, (2015) Materials Part A, New York: American Society of
Mechanical Engineers.
3. ASME Div. IX, (2015) Welding & Brazing Qualification, New York: American Society
of Mechanical Engineer.
4. ASME Div. VIII, (2015) Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessel, New York: American
Society of Mechanical Engineer.
5. Joseph W. Mc Enerney and Pingsha Dong (2000). Recommended Practices for Local
Heating Welds in Pressure Vessels, WRC Bulletin 452, New York, Welding Research
Council.

Project Planning
 159120631, Proposal, UOS BME, Level. 3, Rev. A, March 17, 2017
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Activity
Title & Brief
approval

Proposal
Submission

Study on
Publication
&
Methodology

Material
Preparation

Welding
Process

Test Coupon
Preparation

Mechanical
Tests

In Lab HIC
Test

Results
Compilation

Justification
on the HIC
Resistivity

Interim
Writing

Interim
Submission

Thesis
Writing

Thesis
Submission

Viva