UNDERSTANDING THE
NACE SPECIFICATIONS
by Thomas Spence
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What are NACE Specifications?
National Association of Corrosion Engineers
NACE issues a variety of standards referred to as
RP’s, TM’s and MR’s.
Most widely used are the H2S specifications
MR0175 now known as ISO 15156 parts 1-3
MR0103
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WHY THE CONCERN ABOUT H2S?
H2S causes Sulfide Stress corrosion Cracking – SSC
Most metals are susceptible to SSC
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WHAT IS SULFIDE STRESS
CRACKING?
SSC is defined as cracking of a metal under the
combined action of a tensile stress and corrosion in
the presence of water and H2S. SSC is a form of
hydrogen stress cracking resulting from absorption of
atomic hydrogen that is produced by the sulfide
corrosion reaction on the metal surface.
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WHAT MAKES METALS
SUSCEPTIBLE?
STRENGTH
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
HEAT TREATMENT
MICROSTRUCTURE
ENVIRONMENT
H2S CONCENTRATION
PRESSURE
TEMPERATURE
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RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the equipment users’ responsibility to determine
if these H2S standards apply and to select the
materials suitable for the intended service.
The manufacturer is then responsible for meeting the
metallurgical requirements for the materials.
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MR0175/ISO15156
“Materials for Use in H2S Containing
Environments in Oil and Gas Production”
Concerned about SSC and Chloride SCC
Specific environmental limits
• Temperature
• Partial pressure of H2S
• Chloride content
Uses hardness testing to determine a material’s
suitability
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7
WHY HARDNESS TESTING?
Hardness equates fairly well with the strength of a
metal
Easy to do
Nondestructive
Higher strength metals are more susceptible to SSC
and Cl¯ SCC
The number and location of hardness tests are not
specified except for weld testing
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MR0175 MATERIALS
Some materials were “grandfathered”
Since MR0175, alloys have to pass testing per
TM0177
MR0175 identifies acceptable alloy categories
List some individual alloys
Some alloys are only suitable for specific
components
Free machining alloys are not acceptable
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H2S GAS LIMITS FOR MR0175
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H2S MULTIPHASE LIMITS FOR
MR0175
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ISO 15156
Applies when the partial pressure of
H2S is ≥ 0.05 psia
No total pressure requirement
Part 1 deals with general principles of
H2S cracking
Part 2 covers carbon steels
Part 3 covers corrosion resistant alloys
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MR0103
“Materials Resistant to SSC in Corrosive
Petroleum Refining Environments”
Only concerned about SSC
No environmental limits
Uses hardness testing to determine a material’s
suitability
Emphasizes welding controls
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13
MR0103
Defines sour environment as
Water with > 50 ppm total sulfide
Water pH < 4 and any sulfide
Water pH > 7.6 and ≥ 20 ppm HCN and
any sulfide
> 0.05 psi pH2S in a gas phase
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CAST IRONS
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-2 MR0103
Gray iron not Same as Same as
acceptable for MR0175 MR0175
pressure parts
A395 DCI is
OK if other
specs like API,
ANSI approve
its use.
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CARBON STEEL SUMMARY
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-2 MR0103
1. Base metal 1. Base metal 1. No base metal
hardness of Rc22 hardness of Rc22 hardness control
max. max. for P1 steels.
2. < 1% Ni for L.A. 2. < 1% Ni for L.A. 2. Alloy steels <10%
3. Most H.T.’s 3. WPQ requires Cr at Rc22 max.
acceptable microhardness 3. WPQ per
4. Verify that weld testing of weld RP0472.
procedure and HAZ per Customer
produces a weld para. 7.3.3 or Rc specifies which of
and HAZ zone of if design stress is 3 methods to use.
Rc22 max or use < 2/3 SMYS and
PWHT. PWHT performed
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NACE RP0472
Title – Methods and Controls to Prevent In-Service
Environmental Cracking of Carbon Steel Weldments in
Corrosive Petroleum Refining Environments.
1. Weld deposit 200 HBW max.
2. HAZ Hardness Control – specified by customer
1. Base metal chemistry controls and suitable weld procedure
controls i.e., preheat, amps, filler metal
2. PWHT
3. HAZ micro-hardness testing during procedure qualification
248 HV max.
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ISO HARDNESS TESTING FOR WPQ
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HAZ HARDNESS CONCERNS
Heat of welding and subsequent rapidly cooling of
HAZ can cause localized hard areas.
Brinell and Rockwell testing may not be fine enough
to detect hard spots
Microhardness testing now emphasized
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MARTENSITIC SS
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
pH ≥3.5 and 1.5 Same as No
psia H2S max MR0175 Environmental.
410, 420 & CA15 Limits
Rc22 410, 420 & CA15
Q & double T Rc22
420 SS Rc 22 Q & double T
and Q & T CA6NM & 424
CA6NM & 424 Rc23
Rc23 Q & double T
Q & double T
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WELDING MARTENSITIC SS
MR0175 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
410, 420 & CA15 Same as 410, 420 & CA15
PWHT at 1150°F MR0175 PWHT at 1150°F
min. and meet min. and meet
base metal base metal
hardness Rc22 hardness
424 & CA6NM 424 & CA6NM
PWHT at 1075- only double
1150°F or double temper PWHT
temper and meet and base metal
base metal hardness Rc23
hardness Rc23
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AUSTENITIC 18 – 8 TYPE SS
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
1. Base metal 1. Base metal 1. Base metal
hardness of hardness of hardness of
Rc22 max. Rc22 max. Rc22 max.
2. Solution anneal 2. Solution anneal 2. Solution anneal
3. 0.08% C max. 3. 0.08% C max. 3. 0.10% max. C
4. 309 & 310 OK 4. 309 & 310 OK 4. HAZ hardness is
5. HAZ must be Rc 5. Weld with L grade same as base
22 max. fillers. metal.
6. WPQ of HAZ by
microhardness
per 7.3.3
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18 – 8 TYPE SS ENVIR. LIMITS
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
15 psia H2S at 15 psia H2S at No limits
60°C and any Cl 60°C and any Cl
and no S If <50 ppm Cl
If <50 ppm Cl then no limits on
then H2S 50 psia H2S or temp.
N50 OK at Rc35 316SS 93°C if
and15 psia H2S H2S < 1.5 psia
at 66°C with no S and Cl <5000
ppm & pH ≥ 5
N50 OK at Rc35
and15 psia H2S
at 66°C
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HIGH ALLOY AUSTENITIC SS
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
%Ni + 2(%Mo) %Ni + 2(%Mo) %Ni + 2(%Mo)
>30 >30 >30
CN7M, Alloy 20 CN7M, Alloy 20 CN7M, Alloy 20
Solution anneal Solution anneal Solution anneal
Max. 15 psia H2S Max. 15 psia H2S or cold worked at
at 60°C any Cl at 60°C any Cl Rc35
and no S If Cl <50 ppm No environmental
If Cl <50 ppm then no limit on limits
then 50 psia max. H 2S
H 2S
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SUPER AUSTENITIC SS PREN>40
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
Sol. Annealed Sol. annealed Solution
<50 ppm Cl no <50 ppm Cl no annealed or cold
limits on T or P limits on T or P work to Rc35
At 171°C max 5000 ppm max Cl No limits
H2S 15 psi max limits similar to
and no S and Cl MR0175
5000 ppm max CK3MCuN 100
149°C max Rb
H2S is 45 psi
121°C H2S is
100 psi
CK3MCuN 100
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PRECIP. HARDENABLE SS
MR0175 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
Non-Pressure Same as 17-4 PH & 15-5
parts MR0175 PH at Rc33
17-4 PH & 15-5 15-7 PH for snap double aged H.T.
PH at Rc33 rings if Rc 30-32 Used for bolting
double aged H.T. Welds meet at Rc29 in
0.5 psia H2S and same hardness H1150M
pH ≥4.5 as base metal condition
Welds meet Welds meet
same hardness same hardness
as base metal as base metal
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DUPLEX SS PREN <40
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
Solution Same as Solution
annealed MR0175 annealed
No hardness limit Ferrite 35-65%
Ferrite 35-65% Rc 28 max
Max temp. 450°F No P or T limits
Max 1.5 psia H2S
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DUPLEX SS PREN >40
MR0175 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
3 psia max H2S Same as Same as
Solution MR0175 MR0175 w/o
annealed environ. limits
No hardness limit Rc 32 max
Ferrite 35-65%
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WELDING DUPLEX SS
MR0175 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
PQR- weld and HAZ hardness ≤ PQR-
HAZ 30-70% base metal microhardness
ferrite WPQ requires testing of base
HAZ hardness ≤ micro of weld metal, HAZ and
base metal cross section at weld per RP0472
400X with max 310 HV
No G.B. ppts. 35-65% ferrite
Intermetallic Heat input ± 10%
phases, nitrides, of PQR
carbides <1% Wall thickness ±
Sigma <0.5% 20% PQR
30-70% ferrite
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SOLID SOLUTION Ni ALLOYS
MR0175 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
Inconel 625 Same as Same as
Hastelloy C types MR0175 MR0175 but
No hardness limit Monel 400 & 405 specific hardness
at Rc 35 max limits for cold
No Envirn. Limits worked condition
Solution anneal Inconel 625,
not cold worked Hastelloy C276,
Incoloy 800 &
825, Monel 400 &
405 Rc 35 max.
Hastelloy C22 Rc
40 max.
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WELDING Ni ALLOYS
MR0175 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
No hardness limit No hardness limit HAZ and weld
must meet the
base metal
hardness limit
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MISCELLANEOUS ALLOYS
MR0175 2003 ISO 15156-2 MR0103
Ultimet Rc 22 Ultimet Rc 22 Ultimet Rc33
Ti C-2 Rb 100 Ti C-2 Rb 100 Ti C-2 Rb100
Ti C-12 Rb 92 Ti C-12 Rb 92
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OVERLAYS
MR0175 ISO 15156-3 MR0103
Stellite, Same as Same as
Colmonoy and MR0175 MR0175
WC are OK if
base metal
hardness is not
affected.
If it is then PWHT
Overlays cannot
be used to
protect a
susceptible base
material
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Bolting
Only exposed bolting is controlled
Exposed
Underground
Wrapped in Insulation
Covered by Flange Protectors
Denied direct access to atmosphere
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34
BOLTING
MR0103
B7M RC22 max
B8MA Class 1
Cut threads only
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35
BOLTING (continued)
ISO 15156
B7M
Cut threads
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36
SUMMARY
BOTH THE USER AND MANUFACTURER NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THESE SPECIFICATIONS.
NOTE THAT SOME HIGHER ALLOYS HAVE THE SAME
ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITS AS LOWER ALLOYS.
EACH OF THE THREE STANDARDS MAY HAVE DIFFERENT
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAME ALLOY
MOST, IF NOT ALL OFF THE SHELF ALLOYS DO NOT
COMPLY WITH THESE SPECIFICATIONS.
YOU MAY HAVE TO DEVELOP NEW WELD PROCEDURES
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ISO 15156 is targeted for updating every 5 years
Technical corrigenda and circulars are issued as
needed in interim
www.iso.org/iso15156maintenance
Sour service forum on NACE website
NACE membership gives you free access to all
NACE standards
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