Effect of microstructure and crystallography on sulfide stress cracking in API-5CT-C110 casing steel

Microstructure and crystallography have been characterized on an API-5CT-C110 casing steel. Regions near a crack, more distant from a crack, and from specimen with no cracks were analyzed through electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). A higher proportion of low-angle grain boundaries appeared in the regions near the crack, while regions distant from cracks presented primarily high-angle grain boundaries. The high Kernel Average Misorientation value and more grains with higher Taylor factor emerged in areas beside cracks. The corrosion reactions observed in the cracks would be expected to promote crack growth.