SS grades for H2S gas exposure 2

[stewsheaves]

We manufacture some small stainless steel sheaves for an oil field application. There is H2S (sewer gas or rotten eggs gas) present, strong enough to smell but not strong enough to be harmful. (H2S is deadly in high enough concentrations.)

Can we use 303 or 304 SS for this application without incurring corrosion or do we need to use 316L? We find the 316L very difficult to machine compared to 303 or 304.

stewsheaves

 

[mcguire]

stewsheaves
You cannot sell ANYTHING in the oilpatch unless you comply with NACE specs, unless you're selling to fools. See MR0175.

Michael McGuire

http://stainlesssteelforengineers.blogspot.com/

 

[stewsheaves]

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

Two statements in the specifications were very important to me. "It is the responsibility of the user to determine the operating conditions and to specify when the standard applies." and " It is the user's responsibility to ensure that a material will be satisfactory in the intended environment."

Therefore, I need to tell my customer what materials we are supplying and get him to approve or not. The ultimate responsibility is his.

The other point I got from the specifications is that 304L and 316L are subject to the same environmental limits. Nothing is gained IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION by using 316L instead of 304L.

 

[EdStainless]

Well, nothing is gained in terms of H2S service limits, but a lot is gained in terms of the material being suitable for more corrrosive evironments.

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