Corrosion Testing of Carbon Steel and 13Cr Casing Materials in Simulated Superhot Deep Geothermal Well Environment

Major challenges are encountered in the design and construction of deep superhot (>300°C) geothermal wells due to higher temperatures and pressure, and increased corrosiveness of the geothermal fluid. The corrosiveness of the geothermal fluid is due to the chemical composition which includes corrosive gases such as HCl, H2S and CO2. In this study L80-type 1 carbon steel and L80-13Cr stainless steel API casing materials were tested in a simulated superhot geothermal well environment at 350°C in water with Cl, H2S and CO2 for 168 hrs. in both vapor and liquid phases in high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) autoclave to investigate their corrosion behavior. The results showed that both API casing materials, L80-type 1 and L80-13Cr, were prone to corrosion attack in the simulated superhot deep geothermal well environment. The L80 grade Type 1 carbon steel tested in the liquid phase exhibited the highest corrosion rate and demonstrated vulnerability to localized corrosion or cracking in both liquid and vapor phases. Similarly, the L80 grade 13Cr stainless steel is not considered a suitable choice for harsh environments rich in H2S, CO2, and Cl at superheated temperatures. While it was prone to localized corrosion, it exhibited a low uniform corrosion rate (<0.1 mm/year).