Corrosion Reason of a Deethanizer

Penetration method was adopted to detect the external surface of the deethanizer in an offshore oilfield terminal. The results reveal that there were 56 cracks distributed in the first to fourth sections of the deethanizer′s barrel. In order to ensure the safety in production, the main cracking causes were analyzed through the methods of microstructure observation and chemical composition analysis, and the resolutions were presented. The results show that the failure was due to SCC induced by chloride and could be resolved by replacing the materials of the thermal insulation or the deethanizer.