Sour Service Limits for a Molybdenum-Containing, Lean Duplex Stainless Steel

Independent laboratories conducted extensive testing on S32003 molybdenum-containing lean duplex stainless steel. This study was undertaken as an effort to expand the knowledge of this lean duplex alloy, to aid end users faced with flowline material decisions to combat deep water pressure and late-life souring. The results of these tests suggest the bounds of environmental limits for this alloy in sour service. These limits are compared to limits for 316L stainless and 2205 duplex stainless currently listed under MR0175 - ISO 15156 Materials for Use in H₂S-containing environments in oil and gas production.  Some field simulation testing and application experiences are also discussed.