Chain reaction

摘要

Hydrogen-assisted stress cracking (HASC), caused by hydrogen embrittlement (HE), is an ongoing concern for the offshore sector. Put simply, HE is caused by hydrogen entering the microstructure of steel and making it brittle, thus undermining the structural integrity of vital components and increasing the risk of catastrophic failure.Naturally, such failures can severely injure personnel, stifle productivity and reduce the lifespan of expensive specialist equipment. Affected components can range from blowout preventer bolts (the failure of which was identified as one of the causes of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident) to the chains and links used in topside and subsea lifts.