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NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-3: Ferralium 255 Sour-Service Compliance

Ferralium 255 sour-service per NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-3, UNS S32550
Ferralium 255 NACE MR0175 sour-service

Material qualification for H2S, CO2, and chloride service in oil and gas production

NACE MR0175 (now harmonised with ISO 15156-3) is the controlling document for material selection in upstream oil and gas service where the produced fluid contains hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The standard establishes acceptance limits for cracking-resistant materials based on environmental severity (H2S partial pressure, in-situ temperature, chloride concentration, free-sulphur presence, and pH). Ferralium 255 (UNS S32550) is listed in ISO 15156-3 Table A.10 as a qualified super duplex grade with the following environmental envelope: maximum H2S partial pressure 100 kPa (15 psi), maximum in-situ temperature 232 °C, maximum chloride at 100 °C of 167 g/L, conditional acceptance to higher chloride at lower temperature per the table. The metallurgical acceptance criteria are: hardness ≤ 32 HRC measured at the bolt mid-radius location per NACE TM0177, ferrite content within 35 to 55% per ASTM E562, supplied in the solution-annealed condition (no precipitation or transformation hardening permitted).

Environmental Envelope (ISO 15156-3 Table A.10)

ParameterLimitNotes
H2S partial pressure, max100 kPa (15 psi)Above this limit, switch to Inconel 718 or Hastelloy C-276
In-situ temperature, max232 °CAbove this limit super duplex risks 475 °C embrittlement on long exposure
Chloride at 100 °C, max167 g/LDe-rate at higher temperature per Table A.10 footnote
Free elemental sulphurNOT permittedMaterial is disqualified for sulphur-bearing service
pH (in-situ)≥ 3.5 typicalCombined with H2S limit per Table 1 of ISO 15156-2
Hardness, max32 HRCPer NACE TM0177 (mid-radius location)
Ferrite content35 to 55%Per ASTM E562 point count, transverse and longitudinal sections

Testing Required for Conformance

Per-heat MTC (EN 10204 type 3.2) documents the chemistry per ASTM A479, the mechanical properties per ASTM E8 / A370, the hardness traverse at three locations per piece, the ferrite-content point count per ASTM E562 with the grid sketch, the Charpy V-notch energy at the qualifying temperature (typically 45 J at -46 °C for North Sea / Aramco service), and the explicit NACE MR0175 conformance statement with the ISO 15156-3 Table A.10 reference. For sour service in NORSOK-governed projects the supplementary requirement S60 (NACE TM0177 method A: tensile-stress sulphide stress cracking test) is often added; this is a 720-hour test on a stressed specimen in a saturated-H2S aqueous environment, with the specimen showing no cracking at 80% yield-strength applied stress.

Where Ferralium 255 Meets Its Limit

Above 100 kPa H2S partial pressure, above 232 °C in-situ temperature, in free-elemental-sulphur service, or in any combination of those conditions plus chloride above the Table A.10 limit, Ferralium 255 should not be specified. The escalation route is to nickel-base alloys: Inconel 718 (UNS N07718) for high-strength bolting, Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) for piping and pressure shells, Hastelloy C-276 (UNS N10276) for severe acid + chloride service. For service strictly within the envelope but where the higher PREN of 2507 (≥ 41) or Zeron 100 (≥ 40 with W-bearing benefit) gives extra margin, see Ferralium vs 2507 and Ferralium vs Zeron 100 comparison pages.

Need Ferralium 255 NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-3 sour-service? Email info@torqbolt.com or WhatsApp +91-22-66157017 with form, dimensions, quantity, ASTM/EN spec, MTC level (3.1 / 3.2). NACE MR0175 sour-service stamp on every heat. NORSOK M-650 QTR on request. Per-heat EN 10204 type 3.2 MTC included with every consignment.