The effect of the partial pressure of H2S on the permeation of hydrogen in low carbon pipeline steel

The effect of different partial pressures of H2S (PH2SPH2S) on the hydrogen permeation behaviour of API-X52 pipeline carbon steel was investigated in a high-temperature and high-pressure hydrogen permeation device. The results showed that the peak value of the hydrogen permeation curves, the corrosion rates, the susceptibility to hydrogen induced cracking and the amount of diffusible hydrogen significantly increased with increasing PH2SPH2S. Hydrogen permeation rate was affected by both PH2SPH2S and corrosion product films. The dense and incrassated corrosion product films provided significant protective properties and suppressed the production of hydrogen atoms.

► The hydrogen permeation curves were found in high pressure H2S environment.
► The protective property of corrosion product film was concluded.
► The structures of corrosion products with different PH2SPH2S were determined.
► The inner corrosion product film was characterized by XPS.
► The effect of PH2SPH2S and corrosion product film were discussed.