Stainless Steel Pipe Composition for High-Strength Corrosion Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stainless steels for oil wells face challenges in achieving stable high strength and corrosion resistance in high-temperature environments, particularly in deep oil wells with corrosive gases like CO2 and H2S, where existing compositions struggle to consistently deliver yield strengths above 758 MPa.

Innovation Solution

A stainless steel composition with specific chemical ranges (C: ≤0.05%, Si: 0.05-1.0%, Mn: 0.01-1.0%, Cr: 16-18%, Mo: 1.8-3%, Cu: 1.0-3.5%, Ni: 3.0-5.5%, Co: 0.01-1.0%, and N: 0.002-0.05%) and microstructure (10-60% ferrite, ≤10% retained austenite, and ≥40% martensite) that satisfies Formulas (1) and (2): Cr + 4Ni + 3Mo + 2Cu ≥ 44 and Cr + 3Ni + 4Mo + 2Cu/3 ≤ 46, ensuring high strength and corrosion resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If two-phase stainless steel with high Cr content (>22%) is used, then strength and corrosion resistance are improved, but cost increases due to multiple alloy elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield strengthVSAvoidalloy composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by precisely controlling Cr content (16-18%) and adding specific amounts of Mo (1.5-3.0%), Cu (1.0-3.5%), and Ni (3.0-5.5%), while satisfying specific formulas (Cr+Mo+0.3Si-40C-10N-Ni-0.3Mn between 10-13 and Cr+4Ni+3Mo+2Cu≥44). This parameter optimization achieves high strength and corrosion resistance without requiring excessive Cr content or complex multi-element alloys.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If stainless steel with Cr content of 16-18% is used, then cost is reduced compared to two-phase steel, but stable high strength (≥758 MPa) in high-temperature environment is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealloy composition simplicityVSAvoidstrength stability in high-temperature environment
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite microstructure consisting of martensite (50-90%), ferrite (10-40%), and retained austenite (≤10%). This multi-phase composite structure provides both high strength and good ductility, enabling the steel to achieve yield strength ≥758 MPa while maintaining stability in high-temperature corrosive environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes multiple parameters simultaneously: Cr content (16-18%), Mo content (1.5-3.0%), Cu content (1.0-3.5%), Ni content (3.0-5.5%), and satisfies specific formulas (Cr+Mo+0.3Si-40C-10N-Ni-0.3Mn between 10-13 and Cr+4Ni+3Mo+2Cu≥44). This comprehensive parameter control ensures stable high strength in high-temperature environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional stainless steel composition is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but corrosion resistance in high-temperature environment with CO2 and H2S is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcorrosion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters by controlling Cr (16-18%), Mo (1.5-3.0%), Cu (1.0-3.5%), and Ni (3.0-5.5%), and satisfies specific formulas (Cr+Mo+0.3Si-40C-10N-Ni-0.3Mn between 10-13 and Cr+4Ni+3Mo+2Cu≥44). These parameter changes significantly improve corrosion resistance in high-temperature environments with CO2 and H2S while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2832881B1Stainless steel for oil wells and stainless steel pipe for oil wells
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION

AI summary

A stainless steel for oil wells which has excellent high-temperature corrosion resistance and can stably obtain a strength of not less than 758 MPa is provided. The stainless steel for oil wells contains, by mass%, C: not more than 0.05%, Si: not more than 1.0%, Mn: 0.01 to 1.0%, P: not more than 0.05%, S: less than 0.002%, Cr: 16 to 18%, Mo: 1.8 to 3%, Cu: 1.0 to 3.5%, Ni: 3.0 to 5.5%, Co: 0.01 to 1.0%, Al: 0.001 to 0.1%, O: not more than 0.05%, and N: not more than 0.05%, the balance being Fe and impurities, and satisfies Formulas (1) and (2): Cr+4⁢Ni+3⁢Mo+2⁢Cu≥44 Cr+3⁢Ni+4⁢Mo+2⁢Cu/3≤46 where each symbol of element in Formulas (1) and (2) is substituted by the content (mass%) of a corresponding element.