CO2-corrosion of injection pipe steels is a relevant safety issue when emission gasses are compressed in deep geological layers (CCS). The reliability of the steels used at the geological onshore CCS-site at Ketzin, Germany, is demonstrated in laboratory experiments under an equivalent corrosive environment (T=60 °C,p=1-60 bar, aquifer water, CO2-flow rate of 3 l/h, 700 h8000 h heat treatment). Corrosion kinetics and microstructures were characterized using samples of the heat treated steel 1.7225 (AISI 4140, 42CrMo4) used for casing, and samples of the martensitic stainless injection-pipe steel 1.4034 (AISI 420, X46Cr13).
During the compression emission gasses in deep geological layers (Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS) CO2-corrosion will become a relevant safety issue. The reliability of the steels used at the geological onshore CCS-site at Ketzin, Germany, (heat treated steel 42CrMo4 (1.7225, AISI 4140) used for casing, and the martensitic stainless injection pipe steels X46Cr13 (1.4034, AISI 420 C), X20Cr13 (1.4021, AISI 420 J), X35CrMo17 (1.4122)) is demonstrated in 1 and 2 years laboratory experiments. Samples were kept in a synthetic aquifer environment similar to the geological CCS-site at Ketzin, Germany at T=60 °C. This corrosive environment is then saturated with technical CO2 at a flow rate of 3 l/h. Microstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray, after a series of heat treatments (700 h to 2 years). Due to very slow mass loss at extended exposure times to CCS-environment one year is sufficient to predict stable surface corrosion rates from laboratory experiments. The non-linear isothermal surface corrosion behaviour of the steels reveals surface corrosion rates around 0.1 to 0.8 mm/year, when obtained by mass gain. The loss of the base material is higher when calculated from the corrosion layer magnitude due to the unpredictable local corrosion attacks. Severe pit corrosion (pit heights ca. 4.5 mm) are only located on the high chromium steels. Main phases of the continuous scales are siderite FeCO3 and goethite α-FeOOH. The formation of the non-protective layer is likely to form via a transient Fe(OH)2-phase.
During carbon capture and storage (CCS) CO2-corrosion of pipe steels is a relevant safety issue when emission gasses are compressed in deep geological layers. The reliability of the steels 42CrMo4, X20Cr13, X46Cr13 and X35CrMo17 is demonstrated in long term laboratory experiments up to 2 years of exposure time. Testings were carried out at ambient pressure under an equivalent corrosive environment as found at the geological onshore CCS-site at Ketzin, Germany (T=60 °C, aquifer water).
The CCS technique involves the compression of emission gasses in deep geological layers. To guarantee the safety of the site, CO2-corrosion of the injection pipe steels has to be given special attention when engineering CCS-sites. To get to know the corrosion behaviour samples of the heat treated steel 1.72252CrMo4, used for casing, and the stainless injection-pipe steel 1.4034 X46Cr13 were kept at T=60 °C and ambient pressure as well as p=100 bar for 700 h - 8000 h in a CC 2-saturated synthetic aquifer environment similar to possible geological on-shore CCS-sites in the northern German Basin. The isothermal corrosion behaviour obtained by mass gain of the steels in the gas phase, the liquid phase and the intermediate phase gives surface corrosion rates around 0.1 to 0.8 mm/year at ambient pressure and much lower about 0.02 to 0.2 mm/year at 100 bar where the CO 2 is in its supercritical state. Severe pit corrosion with pit heights around 4.5 mm are only located on the 42CrMo4 steel. Main phase of the continuous complicated multi-layered carbonate/oxide structure is siderite FeCO 3 in both types of steel.
Dealing with first corrosion screening experiments to predict the reliability and safety of Germanys first Carbon Capture and Storage site in the northern Bassin of Germany, northwest of the Capital Berlin, laboratory experiments have been established to simulate the particular conditions at T=60 °C, highly saline aquifer water similar to 'Stuttgart Aquifer', but only at ambient pressure. With mounting 2 independent full 2-grade titanium autoclave systems (running up to 250 bar and 300 °C) pressures up to p=100 bar are possible. In 2010 a specific corrosion chamber of 2-grade titanium working up to 100 °C, flowing aqui fer water with different gas mixtures was designed to fit to a high cycle fatigue testing machine. Long term fatigue experiments simulating fatigue crack growth under corrosive environments will soon start. These experiments may not only help engineering a CCS site, but results can be used to improve the maintenance of geothermal energy production sites, especially moved parts such as pumps and shafts.
The CCS technique involves the compression of emission gasses in deep geological layers. To guarantee the safety of the site, C02-corrosion of the injection pipe steels has to be given special attention when engineering CCSsites. To get to know the corrosion behaviour samples of the heat treated Steel 1.72252CrMo4, used for casing, and the stainless injection-pipe Steel 1.4034 X46Cr 13 were kept at T=60 °C and ambient pressure as well as p=100 bar for 700 h - 8000 h in a C02-saturated synthetic aquifer environment similar to possible geological on-shore CCS-sites in the northern German Basin. The isothermal corrosion behaviour obtained by mass gain of the steels in the gas phase, the liquid phase and the intermediate phase gives surface corrosion rates around 0.1 to 0.8 mm/year at ambient pressure and much lower about 0.02 to 0.2 mm/year at 100 bar where the C02 is in its supercritical state. Severe pit corrosion with pit heights around 4.5 mm are only located on the 42CrMo4 Steel. Main phase of the continuous complicated multi-layered carbonate/oxide structure is siderite FeCO} in both types of Steel.