Corrosion Testing of Well Casing Materials at 450°C in Simulated Superhot Geothermal Well Environment (C2026-00035)
Monday, March 16, 2026
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Central
Location: 371 AB
Earn .5 PDH
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The term superhot geothermal well generally refers to wells drilled deeper than 3 km, with temperature above 400°C and the geothermal fluids exceed the critical enthalpy (>2.086 MJ/kg). These wells face significant challenges, particularly corrosion, due to high temperatures and the presence of corrosive non-condensable gases like CO₂, H₂S, and HCl. To assess the durability of casing materials under such harsh conditions, material testing is required in demanding conditions at high temperatures and pressures (>350°C, >150 bar) with corrosive gases. This study investigates the corrosion resistance of carbon steel and 13Cr casing materials under simulated superhot geothermal conditions using a high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) autoclave at 450°C and 167 bar. The samples were exposed to H₂O vapor with H₂S and CO₂ gases for 168 hours. Corrosion behavior was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and corrosion rate measurements. The study presents microstructural and chemical analysis results and compares them with limited data from literature and in-situ observations from the DDP-1 experimental well.
