ISO 15156-2:2015

Petroleum and natural gas industries - Materials for use in H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production - Part 2: Cracking-resistant carbon and low-alloy steels, and the use of cast irons

ISO 15156-2:2015 gives requirements and recommendations for the selection and qualification of carbon and low-alloy steels for service in equipment used in oil and natural gas production and natural gas treatment plants in H2S-containing environments, whose failure can pose a risk to the health and safety of the public and personnel or to the environment. It can be applied to help to avoid costly corrosion damage to the equipment itself. It supplements, but does not replace, the materials requirements of the appropriate design codes, standards or regulations. ISO 15156-2:2015 addresses the resistance of these steels to damage that can be caused by sulfide stress-cracking (SSC) and the related phenomena of stress-oriented hydrogen-induced cracking (SOHIC) and soft-zone cracking (SZC). ISO 15156-2:2015 also addresses the resistance of these steels to hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) and its possible development into stepwise cracking (SWC). ISO 15156-2:2015 is concerned only with cracking. Loss of material by general (mass loss) or localized corrosion is not addressed. Table 1 provides a non-exhaustive list of equipment to which this part of ISO 15156 is applicable, including permitted exclusions. ISO 15156-2:2015 applies to the qualification and selection of materials for equipment designed and constructed using load controlled design methods. For design utilizing strain-based design methods, see ISO 15156-1:2015, Clause 5. Annex A lists SSC-resistant carbon and low alloy steels, and A.2.4 includes requirements for the use of cast irons. ISO 15156-2:2015 is not necessarily suitable for application to equipment used in refining or downstream processes and equipment.

Industries du pétrole et du gaz naturel — Matériaux pour utilisation dans des environnements contenant de l'hydrogène sulfuré (H2S) dans la production de pétrole et de gaz — Partie 2: Aciers au carbone et aciers faiblement alliés résistants à la fissuration, et utilisation de fontes

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 19-Aug-2015
• Withdrawal Date: 19-Aug-2015
• ICS: 75.180.01 - Equipment for petroleum and natural gas industries in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 67 - Materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 67/WG 7 - Corrosion resistant materials
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Start Date: 17-Nov-2020
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Consolidated By: ISO 28721-1:2019 - Vitreous and porcelain enamels - Glass-lined apparatus for process plants - Part 1: Quality requirements for apparatus, components, appliances and accessories
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022
• Revised: ISO 15156-2:2020 - Petroleum and natural gas industries - Materials for use in H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production - Part 2: Cracking-resistant carbon and low-alloy steels, and the use of cast irons
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020
• Revises: ISO 15156-2:2009 - Petroleum and natural gas industries - Materials for use in H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production - Part 2: Cracking-resistant carbon and low-alloy steels, and the use of cast irons
• Effective Date: 24-May-2014

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 15156-2
Third edition
2015-09-01
Petroleum and natural gas
industries — Materials for use in H2S-
containing environments in oil and
gas production —
Part 2:
Cracking-resistant carbon and low-
alloy steels, and the use of cast irons
Industries du pétrole et du gaz naturel — Matériaux pour utilisation
dans des environnements contenant de l’hydrogène sulfuré (H2S)
dans la production de pétrole et de gaz —
Partie 2: Aciers au carbone et aciers faiblement alliés résistants à la
fissuration, et utilisation de fontes
Reference number
©
ISO 2015
© ISO 2015, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 2
3 Terms and definitions . 3
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 6
5 Purchasing information . 6
6 Factors affecting the behaviour of carbon and low alloy steels in H S-
containing environments . 7
7 Qualification and selection of carbon and low-alloy steels with resistance to SSC,
SOHIC and SZC . 8
7.1 Option 1 — Selection of SSC-resistant steels (and cast irons) using A.2 . 8
7.1.1 For p < 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi) . 8
H2S
7.1.2    For p ≥ 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi) . 8
H2S
7.2 Option 2 — Selection of steels for specific sour-service applications or for ranges
of sour service . 8
7.2.1 Sulfide stress-cracking . 8
7.2.2 SOHIC and SZC .10
7.3 Hardness requirements .10
7.3.1 General.10
7.3.2 Parent metals .10
7.3.3 Welds .10
7.4 Other fabrication methods .16
8 Evaluation of carbon and low alloy steels for their resistance to HIC/SWC .16
9 Marking, labelling, and documentation .17
Annex A (normative) SSC-resistant carbon and low alloy steels (and requirements and
recommendations for the use of cast irons) .18
Annex B (normative) Qualification of carbon and low-alloy steels for H S service by
laboratory testing .27
Annex C (informative) Determination of H S partial pressure .35
Annex D (informative) Recommendations for determining pH .37
Annex E (informative) Information that should be supplied for material purchasing .42
Bibliography .44
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and offshore structures
for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 15156-2:2009), of which it constitutes a
minor revision, specifically by the following:
— replacement in the Scope of the term “conventional elastic design criteria” by the term “load
controlled design methods”;
— inclusion in both 7.2.1.1 and A.2.1.1 of information that emphasizes the possibilities for the
qualification for a specific sour service or range of sour service of carbon and low alloy steels not
listed in Annex A;
— replacement of paragraph 6 of A.2.1.4 to improve the guidance on the welding of carbon and low
alloy steels not covered elsewhere in this subclause.
ISO 15156 consists of the following parts, under the general title Petroleum and natural gas industries —
Materials for use in H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production
— Part 1: General principles for selection of cracking-resistant materials
— Part 2: Cracking-resistant carbon and low-alloy steels, and the use of cast irons
— Part 3: Cracking-resistant CRAs (corrosion-resistant alloys) and other alloys
iv © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The consequences of sudden failures of metallic oil and gas field components, associated with their
exposure to H S-containing production fluids, led to the preparation of the first edition of NACE MR0175,
which was published in 1975 by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, now known as NACE
International.
The original and subsequent editions of NACE MR0175 established limits of H S partial pressure above
which precautions against sulfide stress-cracking (SSC) were always considered necessary. They
also provided guidance for the selection and specification of SSC-resistant materials when the H S
thresholds were exceeded. In more recent editions, NACE MR0175 has also provided application limits
for some corrosion-resistant alloys, in terms of environmental composition and pH, temperature and
H S partial pressures.
In separate developments, the European Federation of Corrosion issued EFC Publication 16 in 1995 and
EFC Publication 17 in 1996. These documents are generally complementary to those of NACE though
they differed in scope and detail.
In 2003, the publication of the ISO 15156-series and NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 was completed for the
first time. These technically identical documents utilized the above sources to provide requirements
and recommendations for materials qualification and selection for application in environments
containing wet H S in oil and gas production systems. They are complemented by NACE TM0177 and
NACE TM0284 test methods.
The revision of this part of ISO 15156 involves a consolidation of all changes agreed and published
in the Technical Circular 1, ISO 15156-2:2009/Cir.1:2011(E) and the Technical Circular 2,
ISO 15156-2:2009/Cir.2:2014(E), published by the ISO 15156 Maintenance Agency secretariat at DIN.
The changes were developed by and approved by the ballot of, representative groups from within
the oil and gas production industry. The great majority of these changes stem from issues raised by
document users. A description of the process by which these changes were approved can be found at
the ISO 15156 maintenance website: www.iso.org/iso15156maintenance.
When found necessary by oil and gas production industry experts, future interim changes to this part of
ISO 15156 will be processed in the same way and will lead to interim updates to this part of ISO 15156
in the form of Technical Corrigenda or Technical Circulars. Document users should be aware that such
documents can exist and can impact the validity of the dated references in this part of ISO 15156.
The ISO 15156 Maintenance Agency at DIN was set up after approval by the ISO Technical Management
Board given in document 34/2007. This document describes the make up of the agency, which includes
experts from NACE, EFC and ISO/TC 67, and the process for approval of amendments. It is available from
the ISO 15156 maintenance website and from the ISO/TC 67 Secretariat. The website also provides
access to related documents that provide more detail of ISO 15156 maintenance activities.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 15156-2:2015(E)
Petroleum and natural gas industries — Materials for use in
H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production —
Part 2:
Cracking-resistant carbon and low-alloy steels, and the use
of cast irons
WARNING — Carbon and low-alloy steels and cast irons selected using this part of ISO 15156
are resistant to cracking in defined — H S-containing environments in oil and gas production
but not necessarily immune to cracking under all service conditions. It is the equipment
user’s responsibility to select the carbon and low alloy steels and cast irons suitable for the
intended service.
1 Scope
This part of ISO 15156 gives requirements and recommendations for the selection and qualification
of carbon and low-alloy steels for service in equipment used in oil and natural gas production and
natural gas treatment plants in H S-containing environments, whose failure can pose a risk to the
health and safety of the public and personnel or to the environment. It can be applied to help to avoid
costly corrosion damage to the equipment itself. It supplements, but does not replace, the materials
requirements of the appropriate design codes, standards or regulations.
This part of ISO 15156 addresses the resistance of these steels to damage that can be caused by sulfide
stress-cracking (SSC) and the related phenomena of stress-oriented hydrogen-induced cracking
(SOHIC) and soft-zone cracking (SZC).
This part of ISO 15156 also addresses the resistance of these steels to hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC)
and its possible development into stepwise cracking (SWC).
This part of ISO 15156 is concerned only with cracking. Loss of material by general (mass loss) or
localized corrosion is not addressed.
Table 1 provides a non-exhaustive list of equipment to which this part of ISO 15156 is applicable,
including permitted exclusions.
This part of ISO 15156 applies to the qualification and selection of materials for equipment designed and
constructed using load controlled design methods. For design utilizing strain-based design methods,
see ISO 15156-1:2015, Clause 5.
Annex A lists SSC-resistant carbon and low alloy steels, and A.2.4 includes requirements for the use
of cast irons.
This part of ISO 15156 is not necessarily suitable for application to equipment used in refining or
downstream processes and equipment.
Table 1 — List of equipment
ISO 15156 is applicable to materials used
Permitted exclusions
for the following equipment
Drilling, well construction and well-servicing Equipment exposed only to drilling fluids of controlled
a
equipment composition
Drill bits
b
Blowout preventer (BOP) shear blades
Drilling riser systems
Work strings
c
Wireline and wireline equipment
Surface and intermediate casing
d
Wells, including subsurface equipment, gas lift Sucker rod pumps and sucker rods
equipment, wellheads and christmas trees
Electric submersible pumps
Other artificial lift equipment
Slips
Flow-lines, gathering lines, field facilities and field Crude oil storage and handling facilities operating at a
processing plants total absolute pressure below 0,45 MPa (65 psi)
Water-handling equipment Water-handling facilities operating at a total absolute
pressure below 0,45 MPa (65 psi)
Water injection and water disposal equipment
Natural gas treatment plants —
Transportation pipelines for liquids, gases and Lines handling gas prepared for general commercial
multiphase fluids and domestic use
For all equipment above Components loaded only in compression
a
See A.2.3.2.3 for more information.
b
See A.2.3.2.1 for more information.
c
Wireline lubricators and lubricator connecting devices are not permitted exclusions.
d
For sucker rod pumps and sucker rods, reference can be made to NACE MR0176.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 6506-1, Metallic materials — Brinell hardness test — Part 1: Test method
ISO 6507-1, Metallic materials — Vickers hardness test — Part 1: Test method
ISO 6508-1, Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test — Part 1: Test method
ISO 6892-1, Metallic materials — Tensile testing — Part 1: Method of test at room temperature
ISO 10423, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Drilling and production equipment — Wellhead and
Christmas tree equipment
ISO 15156-1:2015, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Materials for use in H S-containing environments
in oil and gas production — Part 1: General principles for selection of cracking-resistant materials
ISO 15156-3:2015, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Materials for use in H S-containing environments
in oil and gas production — Part 3: Cracking-resistant CRAs (corrosion-resistant alloys) and other alloys
2 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

1)
NACE TM0177 , Laboratory testing of metals for resistance to sulfide stress cracking and stress corrosion
cracking in H2S environments
NACE TM0284, Evaluation of pipeline and pressure vessel steels for resistance to hydrogen-induced cracking
EFC Publications Number 16, Guidelines on materials requirements for carbon and low alloy steels for
2)
H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production
3)
SAE AMS-2430 , Shot Peening, Automatic
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 15156-1 and the following apply.
3.1
Brinell hardness
HBW
hardness value, measured in accordance with ISO 6506-1, normally using a 10 mm diameter tungsten
ball and a force of 29,42 kN
Note 1 to entry: For the purposes of this provision, ASTM E10 is equivalent to ISO 6506-1.
3.2
bubble-point pressure
p
B
pressure under which gas bubbles form in a liquid at a particular operating temperature
Note 1 to entry: See C.2.
3.3
burnish
process of smoothing surfaces using frictional contact between the material and some other hard
pieces of material, such as hardened steel balls
3.4
casting
metal that is obtained at or near its finished shape by the solidification of molten metal in a mould
3.5
cast iron
iron-carbon alloy containing approximately 2 % to 4 % mass fraction carbon
3.5.1
grey cast iron
cast iron that displays a grey fracture surface due to the presence of flake graphite
3.5.2
white cast iron
cast iron that displays a white fracture surface due to the presence of cementite
3.5.3
malleable iron
white cast iron that is thermally treated to convert most or all of the cementite to graphite (temper carbon)
1) NACE International, P.O. Box 2183140, Houston, Texas 77218-8340, USA.
2) European Federation of Corrosion, available from The Institute of Materials, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London
SW1Y 5DB, UK [ISBN 0-901716-95-2].
3) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001 USA.
3.5.4
ductile iron
nodular cast iron
cast iron that has been treated while molten with an element (usually magnesium or cerium) that
spheroidizes the graphite
3.6
cementite
microstructural constituent of steels composed principally of iron carbide (Fe C)
3.7
cold working
cold deforming
cold forging
cold forming
deforming metal plastically under conditions of temperature and strain rate that induce strain-
hardening, usually, but not necessarily, conducted at room temperature
3.8
fitness-for-purpose
suitability for use under the expected service conditions
3.9
free-machining steel
steel to which elements such as sulfur, selenium and lead have been added intentionally to improve
machineability
3.10
lower critical temperature
temperature of a ferrous metal at which austenite begins to form during heating or at which the
transformation of austenite is completed during cooling
3.11
nitriding
case-hardening process in which nitrogen is introduced into the surface of metallic materials (most
commonly ferrous alloys)
EXAMPLE Liquid nitriding, gas nitriding, ion nitriding and plasma nitriding.
3.12
normalizing
heating a ferrous metal to a suitable temperature above the transformation range (austenitizing),
holding at temperature for a suitable time and then cooling in still air (or protective atmosphere) to a
temperature substantially below the transformation range
3.13
plastically deformed
permanently deformed by stressing beyond the limit of elasticity, i.e. the limit of proportionality of
stress to strain
3.14
pressure-containing part
part whose failure to function as intended results in a release of retained fluid to the atmosphere
EXAMPLE Valve bodies, bonnets and stems.
3.15
quenched and tempered
quench hardened and then tempered
4 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

3.16
Rockwell C hardness
HRC
hardness value, measured in accordance with ISO 6508, obtained using a diamond cone indenter and a
force of 1 471 N
Note 1 to entry: For the purposes of this provision, ASTM E18 is equivalent to ISO 6508-1.
3.17
shot-peening
inducing compressive stresses in the surface layer of a material by bombarding it with a selected
medium (usually round steel shot) under controlled conditions
3.18
stress relief
heating a metal to a suitable temperature, holding at that temperature long enough to reduce residual
stresses, and then cooling slowly enough to minimize the development of new residual stresses
3.19
tempering
heat treatment by heating to a temperature below the lower critical temperature, for the purpose
of decreasing the hardness and increasing the toughness of hardened steel, hardened cast iron and,
sometimes, normalized steel
3.20
tensile strength
ultimate strength
ratio of maximum load to original cross-sectional area
Note 1 to entry: See ISO 6892-1.
3.21
test batch
group of items representing a production batch whose conformity with a specified requirement can be
determined by testing representative samples in accordance with a defined procedure
3.22
tubular component
cylindrical component (pipe) having a longitudinal hole, used in drilling/production operations for
conveying fluids
3.23
Vickers hardness
HV
hardness value, measured in accordance with ISO 6507-1, obtained using a diamond pyramid indenter
and one of a variety of possible applied loads
Note 1 to entry: For the purposes of this provision, ASTM E384 is equivalent to ISO 6507-1.
3.24
weldment
portion of a component on which welding has been performed, including the weld metal, the heat-
affected zone (HAZ), and the adjacent parent metal
3.25
weld metal
portion of a weldment that has been molten during welding
3.26
wrought
(metal in the solid condition) formed to a desired shape by working (rolling, extruding, forging, etc.),
usually at an elevated temperature
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the abbreviated terms given in ISO 15156-1 and the following apply.
AYS actual yield strength
CLR crack length ratio
CSR crack surface ratio
CTR crack thickness ratio
DCB double cantilever beam (test)
FPB four-point bend (test)
HBW Brinell hardness
HIC hydrogen-induced cracking
HRC Rockwell hardness (scale C)
HSC hydrogen stress cracking
HV Vickers hardness
OCTG oil country tubular goods, i.e. casing, tubing and drill pipe
partial pressure of H S
p
HS
R 0,2 % proof stress in accordance with ISO 6892-1
p0,2
SMYS specified minimum yield strength
SOHIC stress-oriented hydrogen-induced cracking
SSC sulfide stress-cracking
SWC stepwise cracking
SZC soft-zone cracking
T temperature
UNS Unified Numbering System (from SAE-ASTM, Metals and alloys in the Unified Numbering
System)
UT uniaxial tensile (test)
5 Purchasing information
5.1 The preparation of material purchasing specifications can require co-operation and exchange of
data between the equipment user, the equipment supplier and the material manufacturer to ensure that
the material purchased complies with ISO 15156-1 and this part of ISO 15156.
6 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

5.2 The following information shall be provided:
— preferred material types and/or grades (if known);
— equipment type (if known);
— reference to this part of ISO 15156;
— acceptable bases for selection of materials for SSC resistance (see Clause 7);
— requirements for HIC resistance (see Clause 8).
5.3 The equipment user and the equipment supplier/material manufacturer may agree that carbon or
low-alloy steels other than those described and/or listed in Annex A may be selected subject to suitable
qualification testing in accordance with Annex B and ISO 15156-1. The qualification requirements may
be extended to include resistance to SOHIC and SZC.
If the purchaser intends to make use of such agreements, extensions and qualifications, the appropriate
additional information shall be clearly indicated in the materials purchasing specification. This
information may include
— requirements for SSC testing (see 7.1 and 7.2),
— service conditions for specific sour-service application, and
— other special requirements.
5.4 Annex C describes how to calculate the H S partial pressure and Annex D gives guidance on how to
determine the pH-value of a fluid.
5.5 The information required for material purchasing shall be entered on suitable data sheets.
Suggested formats are given in Annex E.
6 Factors affecting the behaviour of carbon and low alloy steels in H S-
containing environments
The behaviour of carbon and low-alloy steels in H S-containing environments is affected by complex
interactions of parameters, including the following:
a) chemical composition, method of manufacture, product form, strength, hardness of the material
and its local variations, amount of cold work, heat-treatment condition, microstructure,
microstructural uniformity, grain size and cleanliness of the material;
b) H S partial pressure or equivalent concentration in the water phase;
c) chloride ion concentration in the water phase;
d) acidity (pH) of the water phase;
e) presence of sulfur or other oxidants;
f) exposure to non-production fluids;
g) exposure temperature;
h) total tensile stress (applied plus residual);
i) exposure time.
These factors shall be considered when using this part of ISO 15156 for the selection of materials
suitable for environments containing H S in oil and gas production systems.
7 Qualification and selection of carbon and low-alloy steels with resistance to
SSC, SOHIC and SZC
7.1 Option 1 — Selection of SSC-resistant steels (and cast irons) using A.2
7.1.1 For p < 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi)
H2S
The selection of materials for SSC resistance for p below 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi) is not considered in
H2S
detail in this part of ISO 15156. Normally, no special precautions are required for the selection of
steels for use under these conditions, nevertheless, highly susceptible steels can crack. Additional
information on factors affecting susceptibility of steels and attack by cracking mechanisms other
than SSC is given in 7.2.1.
7.1.2 For p ≥ 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi)
H2S
If the partial pressure of H S in the gas is equal to or greater than 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi), SSC-resistant steels
shall be selected using A.2.
NOTE 1 The steels described or listed in A.2 are considered resistant to SSC in oil and natural-gas production
and natural-gas treatment plants.
NOTE 2 Users concerned with the occurrence of SOHIC and/or SZC can refer to Option 2 (see 7.2.2).
NOTE 3 For HIC and SWC, see Clause 8.
7.2 Option 2 — Selection of steels for specific sour-service applications or for ranges
of sour service
7.2.1 Sulfide stress-cracking
7.2.1.1 General
Option 2 allows the user to qualify and select materials for sulfide stress-cracking (SSC) resistance for
specific sour-service applications or for ranges of sour service.
For a given material, the limits of environmental and metallurgical variables defined for specific sour
service or for a range of sour service by qualification in accordance with Option 2 may replace any
limits of environmental and metallurgical variables listed for that material in A.2 (Option 1).
The use of option 2 can require knowledge of both the in situ pH and the H S partial pressure and their
variations with time; see ISO 15156-1.
Option 2 facilitates the purchase of bulk materials, such as OCTG or line pipe, where the economic
incentive to use materials not described nor listed in Annex A outweighs the additional qualification
and other costs that can be incurred. Steels for other equipment may also be qualified. In some cases,
this requires an agreement between the supplier and the equipment user with respect to test and
acceptance requirements. Such agreements shall be documented.
Option 2 can also facilitate fitness-for-purpose evaluations of existing carbon or low-alloy steel
equipment exposed to sour-service conditions more severe than assumed in the current design.
7.2.1.2 SSC regions of environmental severity
The severity of the sour environment, determined in accordance with ISO 15156-1, with respect to the
SSC of a carbon or low-alloy steel shall be assessed using Figure 1. In defining the severity of the H S-
containing environment, the possibility of exposure to unbuffered, condensed aqueous phases of low
pH during upset operating conditions or downtime, or to acids used for well stimulation and/or the
backflow of stimulation acid after reaction should be considered.
8 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Key
X H S partial pressure, expressed in kilopascals
Y in situ pH
0 region 0
1 SSC region 1
2 SSC region 2
3 SSC region 3
NOTE 1 The discontinuities in the figure below 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi) and above 1 MPa (150 psi) partial pressure
H S reflect uncertainty with respect to the measurement of H S partial pressure (low H S) and the steel’s
2 2 2
performance outside these limits (for both low and high H S).
NOTE 2 Guidance on the calculation of H S partial pressure is given in Annex C.
NOTE 3 Guidance on the calculation of pH is given in Annex D.
Figure 1 — Regions of environmental severity with respect to the SSC of carbon and low-alloy
steels
7.2.1.3 Region 0 — For p < 0,3 kPa (0,05 psi)
H2S
Normally, no precautions are required for the selection of steels for use under these conditions.
Nevertheless, a number of factors, as follows, that can affect a steel’s performance in this region should
be considered.
— Steels that are highly susceptible to SSC and HSC can crack.
— Steel’s physical and metallurgical properties affect its inherent resistance to SSC and HSC; see Clause 6.
— Very high-strength steels can suffer HSC in aqueous environments without H S. Above about
965 MPa (140 ksi) yield strength, attention should be given to steel composition and processing to
ensure that these steels do not exhibit SSC or HSC in region 0 environments.
— Stress concentrations increase the risk of cracking.
7.2.1.4 SSC regions 1, 2 and 3
Referring to the regions of severity of the exposure as defined in Figure 1, steels for region 1 may be
selected using A.2, A.3 or A.4; steels for region 2 may be selected using A.2 or A.3; and steels for region 3
may be selected using A.2.
In the absence of suitable choices from Annex A, carbon and low-alloy steels may be tested and qualified
for use under specific sour-service conditions or for use throughout a given SSC region. Testing and
qualification shall be in accordance with ISO 15156-1 and Annex B.
Documented field experience may also be used as the basis for material selection for a specific sour-
service application; see ISO 15156-1.
7.2.2 SOHIC and SZC
The user should consider SOHIC and SZC, as defined in ISO 15156-1, when evaluating carbon steels in
plate form and their welded products for sour service in H S-containing environments.
B.4 provides guidance on test methods and acceptance criteria to evaluate resistance to SOHIC and SZC.
NOTE The occurrence of these phenomena is rare and they are not well understood. They have caused
sudden failures in parent steels (SOHIC) and in the HAZ of welds (SOHIC and SZC). Their occurrence is thought to
be restricted to carbon steels. The presence of sulfur or oxygen in the service environment is thought to increase
the probability of damage by these mechanisms.
7.3 Hardness requirements
7.3.1 General
The hardness of parent materials and of welds and their heat-affected zones play important roles in
determining the SSC resistance of carbon and low alloy steels. Hardness control can be an acceptable
means of obtaining SSC resistance.
7.3.2 Parent metals
If hardness measurements on parent metal are specified, sufficient hardness tests shall be made to
establish the actual hardness of the steel being examined. Individual HRC readings exceeding the value
permitted by this part of ISO 15156 may be considered acceptable if the average of several readings
taken within close proximity does not exceed the value permitted by this part of ISO 15156 and no
individual reading is greater than 2 HRC above the specified value. Equivalent requirements shall apply
to other methods of hardness measurement when specified in this part of ISO 15156 or referenced in a
manufacturing specification.
NOTE The number and location of hardness tests on parent metal are not specified in ISO 15156.
For ferritic steels, EFC Publication 16 shows graphs for the conversion of hardness readings, from
Vickers (HV) to Rockwell (HRC) and from Vickers (HV) to Brinell (HBW), derived from the tables of
ASTM E140 and ISO 18265. Other conversion tables also exist. Users may establish correlations for
individual materials.
7.3.3 Welds
7.3.3.1 General
The metallurgical changes that occur on welding carbon and low-alloy steels affect their susceptibility
to SSC, SOHIC and SZC.
Processes and consumables should be selected in accordance with good practice and to achieve the
required cracking resistance.
10 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Welding shall be carried out in compliance with appropriate codes and standards as agreed between
the supplier and the purchaser. Welding procedure specifications (WPSs) and procedure qualification
records (PQRs) shall be available for inspection by the equipment user.
The qualification of welding procedures for sour service shall include hardness testing in accordance
with 7.3.3.2, 7.3.3.3 and 7.3.3.4.
7.3.3.2 Hardness testing methods for welding procedure qualification
Hardness testing for welding procedure qualification shall normally be carried out using the Vickers
HV 10 or HV 5 method in accordance with ISO 6507-1, or the Rockwell method in accordance with
ISO 6508-1 using the 15N scale.
NOTE For the purposes of this provision, ASTM E384 is equivalent to ISO 6507-1 and ASTM E18 is equivalent
to ISO 6508-1.
The HRC method may be used for welding procedure qualification if the design stress does not exceed
two-thirds of SMYS and the welding procedure specification includes post-weld heat treatment. The use
of the HRC method for welding procedure qualification in all other cases shall require the agreement of
the equipment user.
NOTE Hardness surveys using the Vickers or Rockwell 15N testing method produce a more detailed picture
of weld hardness and its variations. Hardness surveys using the HRC testing method might not detect small zones
in welds or HAZs where the hardness exceeds the acceptance criteria for the Vickers or Rockwell 15N testing
method. The significance of such small hard zones is not well understood.
The use of other hardness testing methods shall require the agreement of the equipment user.
The Vickers or Rockwell 15N hardness testing method shall be used for the qualification of alternative
weld-hardness acceptance criteria as permitted in 7.3.3.4.
7.3.3.3 Hardness surveys for welding procedure qualification
Vickers hardness surveys shall be in accordance with Figure 2 for butt welds, Figure 3 for fillet welds
and Figure 4 for repair and partial penetration welds. HRC surveys of butt welds shall be in accordance
with Figure 5. Survey requirements for other joint configurations shall be developed from these figures.
Hardness surveys for qualification of overlay welding procedures shall be in accordance with Figure 6.
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
A weld heat-affected zone (visible after etching)
B lines of survey
C hardness impressions: Impressions 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17 and 19 should be entirely within the heat-affected
zone and located as close as possible to the fusion boundary between the weld metal and the heat-affected zone
The top line of survey should be positioned so that impressions 2 and 6 coincide with the heat-affected zone of the
final run or change of profile of the fusion line associated with the final run.
Figure 2 — Butt-weld survey method for Vickers hardness measurement
12 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Dimensions in millimetres
Key
A weld heat-affected zone (visible after etching)
B line of survey
C line of survey, parallel to line B and passing through the fusion boundary between the weld metal and the heat-
affected zone at the throat
D hardness impressions: Impressions 3, 6, 10 and 12 should be entirely within the heat-affected zone and located
as close as possible to the fusion boundary between the weld metal and the heat-affected zone
Figure 3 — Fillet weld
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
A original weld heat-affected zone
B repair-weld heat-affected zone
C parallel lines of survey
D hardness impressions: Impressions in the heat-affected zone should be located as close as possible to the fusion
boundary
The top line of survey should be positioned so that the heat-affected zone impressions coincide with the heat-
affected zone of the final run or change in profile of the cap of fusion line associated with the final run.
Figure 4 — Repair and partial penetration welds
14 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Dimensions in millimetres
Key
A weld
B weld heat-affected zone (visible after etching)
C parent metal
D lines of survey
E hardness impressions: Impressions in the weld heat-affected zone should be located within 2 mm of the fusion
boundary
Figure 5 — Butt weld survey method for Rockwell hardness measurements
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
A weld heat-affected zone (visible after etching)
B lines of hardness survey indentations 1 to 12
C layer of weld overlay (visible after etching)
D hardness impressions
The Rockwell C hardness measurement method may be used subject to the requirements of 7.3.3.2. HRC hardness
impressions in the HAZ shall be located within 2 mm of the fusion boundary.
a
Using the Vickers or Rockwell 15N measurement methods, hardness impressions 2, 6 and 10 should be entirely
within the heat-affected zone and located as close as possible to, but no more than 1 mm from, the fusion
boundary between the weld overlay and HAZ.
Figure 6 — Weld overlay
7.3.3.4 Hardness acceptance criteria for welds
Weld hardness acceptance criteria for steels selected using option 1 (see 7.1) shall be as specified in
A.2.1.4. Alternative weld hardness acceptance criteria may be established from successful SSC testing
of welded samples. SSC testing shall be in accordance with Annex B.
Weld-hardness acceptance criteria for steels qualified and/or selected using option 2 (see 7.2) may
be established from successful SSC testing of welded samples. SSC testing shall be in accordance
with Annex B.
7.4 Other fabrication methods
For steels that are subject to hardness change caused by fabrication methods other than welding,
hardness testing shall be specified as part of the qualification of the fabrication process. Hardness
testing shall be specified as part of the qualification of burning/cutting processes if any HAZ remains in
the final product. The requirements, interpreted for the fabrication method, and hardness acceptance
criteria of 7.3 shall apply.
The form and location of the samples for evaluation and testing shall be acceptable to the equipment user.
8 Evaluation of carbon and low alloy steels for their resistance to HIC/SWC
The equipment user shall consider HIC/SWC as defined in ISO 15156-1 when evaluating flat-rolled
carbon steel products for sour service environments containing even trace amounts of H S and shall
consider HIC/SWC testing of these products. Annex B provides guidance on test methods and acceptance
criteria to evaluate resistance to HIC/SWC.
16 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

The probability of HIC/SWC is influenced by steel chemistry and manufacturing route. The level of
sulfur in the steel is of particular importance, typical maximum acceptable levels for flat-rolled and
seamless products are 0,003 % mass fraction and 0,01 % mass fraction, respectively. Conventional
forgings with sulfur levels less than 0,025 % mass fraction, and castings, are not normally considered
sensitive to HIC or SOHIC.
NOTE 1 HIC/SWC leading to loss of containment has occurred only rarely in seamless pipe and other products
that are not flat-rolled. Furthermore, seamless pipe manufactured using modern technology is much less
sensitive to HIC/SWC than older products. Hence, there can be benefits in evaluating seamless pipe for HIC/SWC
resistance for applications where the potential consequences of failure make this justifiable.
NOTE 2 The presence of rust, sulfur or oxygen, particularly together with chloride, in the service environment
is thought to increase the probability of damage.
9 Marking, labelling, and documentation
Materials complying with this part of ISO 15156 shall be made traceable, preferably by marking, before
delivery. Suitable labelling or documentation is also acceptable.
For materials qualified and selected for a special application in accordance with Annex B, traceability
shall include reference to the environmental condit
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