Post on 23-Feb-2016
description
API Standard 6A718 Inclusion of Additional Alloy 718 Strength Classes
Acceptance of alloy 718 at 140 ksi min yield strength
Rashmi BhavsarGlobal Materials Métier Manager Schlumberger Feb 2012
Agenda
• Background• Inclusion of 718 -140 • QC, heat treatment and microstructure • Corrosion testing
Inclusion of Additional Alloy 718 Strength Classes
Background•API Standard 6A718, 1st and 2nd Editions, have included only one strength class: 120K•A 120 KSI min yield strength is what has been historically required
Inclusion of Additional Alloy 718 Strength Classes
Background – Continued• API 6A718 at higher strength level used for other types of oil
and gas production equipment, such as down-hole safety valves• The manufacturers of down-hole safety valves specify Alloy
718 with minimum yield strengths of:– 120 KSI– 130 KSI– 135 KSI– 140 KSI
Inclusion of Additional Alloy 718 Strength Classes
• Background – Continued
•The 135 and 140 KSI grades typically need to be precipitation hardened at a lower temperature range than permitted by API 6A718, thereby rendering material heat treated in this manner out of API 6A compliance.
Or • hand picked to meet minimum yield strength –
not practical
Inclusion of Additional Alloy 718 Strength Classes
• The 130 KSI strength class could simply be added as another strength class without having to make any other changes.• The 135 KSI and 140 KSI strength classes cannot simply be added
in this manner. • It will require aging temperature to be changed to 1400 to 1475F
instead 1425 to 1475F for 140 grade• The yield strength range will be 140 to 150 ksi. (the current spec
limits yield strength to 145 ksi max for 120 grade)
Quality Control and Specification Requirements
Early failures were related to • Poor quality - several macros with inclusions • Chemistry control and Melt practices • Lower annealing temperatures • Poor microstructure - secondary phases and uneven grain size • Cold working for higher strength
Hence API 6A -718 spec was generated
Mechanical Properties
Performance tied to the Microstructure
500 Psi H2S, 500 psi CO2, 25%NaCl at 500oF
144 ksi actual yield strength at room temp – 100% stress level for six months
Courtesy: Foroni Metals
Testing also successful at 350F & 450F in high H2S/CO2 – No cracks (30 days test)
Suggested Change to Allow Higher Strength Alloy718
Heat Treatment:• Leave the annealing temp and time as is• Change the aging temperature range from 1425
to 1475F to 1400 to 1475F.• Leave the aging time of 6 to 8 Hrs.
The check is in the microstructure examination
Heat Treatment – Annealing
• Stay with the higher annealing temperature
Heat Treatment - Aging
Suggested Change to Allow Higher Strength Alloy718
Mechanical Properties: • Allow maximum yield strength to be 150 ksi• Keep the maximum hardness to 40 HRc.• Keep the Charpy toughness values the same
for all strength levels.
The check is in Charpy values
Initial ballots
• A Ballot in 1982 from various suppliers and Shell Development to change hardness to 40HRC max
• Hardness up to 45HRc and YS up to 165 ksi • Most data were at 750 and 1670F
Validation Testing • With 40 HRc Max per Current ISO 15156 – min 3 heats
– Perform 90 days four point bent beam or c-ring Or– Perform 30/90 days creviced bent beam or c-ring – Perform slow strain rate testing in duplicates for information and ranking – Test 130, 140 and 150 ksi actual yield strength – Test environment
• NACE level 6 (500 psi H2S, 500 CO2 and 121,300 mg/l cl at ) 350F) Or • H2S per NACE limits at 350F
Approximate cost $90 to 100K
Future Validation Testing • With 42/43 HRc max – three heats• The same annealing temp and lower aging temperature • To raise the limit in ISO 15156 to 43 Max HRc• Testing to be conducted after the 40 HRc max hardness testing
completed.• The max hardness to be tested with maximum yield strength
available and compare the data to 40 HRc max sample used as reference.
• Alternately test at 450F similar to alloy 935 and 945 and 945X. • Ballot for ISO 15156 / NACE MR0175
• Suggest validation testing if funded