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Fracture Analysis of a Grade HL Steel Sucker Rod Used in an Oilfield

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Abstract

The fracture of a grade HL steel sucker rod occurred after just nine days service in an oilfield of China. The failure cause was analyzed by direct-reading spectrometer, electronic universal testing machine, impact testing machine, micro-Vickers hardness tester, optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy in this paper. The results showed that folding defects and decarburization layer were formed on the surface of the wrench square, while numerous upper bainite formed in the center. The fracture cause of the failed sucker rod was folding defects and decarburization induced surface cracking under the combined effect of alternating stress and bending stress during the pum** operation. Furthermore, the brittle upper bainite accelerated the rapid propagation of the surface crack and finally resulted in the complete fracture failure of the sucker rod.

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taken from selected area I in (a); (c) high magnification image taken from selected area II in (a); (d) high magnification image of the crack propagation region; (e) high magnification image taken from selected area III in (a); (f) long folding defects in the center region of the wrench square.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant number 2019YFF0217500) and the Key Research and Development Plan of Shaanxi Province (grant number 2017KJXX-03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina Company Limited, Korla, 841000, China

    Mifeng Zhao, **angjuan Meng, Wei Fan, Rusen Zheng & Zhenjiang Wu

  2. State Key Laboratory for Performance and Structure Safety of Petroleum Tubular Goods and Equipment Materials, CNPC Tubular Goods Research Institute, **’an, 710077, China

    Yan Long, Anqing Fu & Nan Ji

  3. China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China

    Yan Long

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  1. Mifeng Zhao
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Zhao, M., Meng, X., Long, Y. et al. Fracture Analysis of a Grade HL Steel Sucker Rod Used in an Oilfield. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 22, 377–384 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-021-01298-1

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