As a new corrosion resistant alloy (CRA), high strength 15Cr martensitic stainless steel (0.03C-
15Cr-6Ni-2Mo-1Cu) offers an OCTG material for the completion of HTHP deep water wells and large
bore gas wells, due to a combination of high specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) of 862 MPa (125
ksi) without cold drawing, good notch toughness, and superior CO2 corrosion resistance. This paper
describes the test protocol for development of “project-ready” data of 15Cr steel to determine sour
service limits in terms of environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) and presents some EAC test results.
In addition, the effect of two different buffers, including the acetic acid/acetate buffer and bicarbonate
buffer, on pitting corrosion and EAC has been evaluated and discussed.
Key words: OCTG, martensitic, stainless steel, localized corrosion, environmentally assisted cracking,
hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and acetate buffer.