Risk Analysis - Mercury in
Natural Gas Production Equipment
The risk of failure of brass or bronze seals used
in some natural gas well completions was considered. Of concern was the
possibility of corrosion or cracking of copper-based alloys used in such
applications. Environmentally induced brittle failure modes for brass or bronze
alloys such as stress corrosion cracking (SSC) and liquid metal embrittlement
(LME) were examined. SSC was not expected in the stated application. Although
liquid metal embrittlement by mercury was considered a possible failure
mechanism for copper-base alloys, references concerning a particular
susceptibility to LME in gas well environments were not discovered. References
of LME susceptibility in Monel 400 and in Al 6061 weldments are known in the
petrochemical industry.
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