Crack propagation in the presence of sour gas is the conjunction of electrochemical reactions
and metallurgical processes that increase hydrogen absorption at the crack tip and therefore produces
embrittlement. To evaluate Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) susceptibility to Sulfide Stress
Cracking (SSC) in wet H2S environments NACE International adopted different testing methods.
Particularly, Method D is used for design/fitness-for-service, material qualification and specification
purposes. The material resistance to crack propagation in an aggressive environment is expressed in
terms of a critical stress intensity factor, KISSC. Although this test is standardized, it is widely known
that several variables can affect the obtained KISSC values: geometry of the specimen, initial applied
intensity factor as well as the electrochemical (pH, temperature, H2S content) and metallurgical
variables that modify the amount of absorbed hydrogen. In this work basic research regarding
hydrogen insertion and transport in NACE solutions is used to explain KISSC of 1Cr-0.7Mo steel
tested in different H+/H2S environments. Experimental evidence relating KISSC to the concentration of absorbed hydrogen is provided. Concentration of absorbed hydrogen is related to proton and
hydrogen sulfide concentrations as well as dislocation density and stress. A mechanism of hydrogen
insertion in the presence of hydrogen sulfide is also presented.
Keywords: hydrogen, hydrogen embrittlement, hydrogen sulfide, sulfide stress cracking, hydrogen
permeation, mechanism of hydrogen insertion