Research status of corrosion environment failure and safety assessment of pipeline welded joint

Pipeline transportation is an economical, safe, and efficient transportation method for transporting oil, natural gas, mineral slurry, and other fluids. Welding is the most critical construction process in pipeline engineering and is crucial in the safe operation and service of an entire pipeline system. Theoretically, the girth welded joint is the weakest link in a pipeline system. The unevenness of the structure and performance of the joint caused by welding frequently results in the failure of the welded joint before the failure of the base material of the pipe body, causing the pipeline to leak or even break. For steel pipes used in an acidic corrosive medium environment, the integration of the corrosive medium and mechanical load will accelerate the failure of the welded joint. This article reviews the failure modes of pipeline welded joints in acidic corrosive media, including stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen-induced cracking, and corrosion fracture, and corrosion fatigue considering the diffusion and accumulation of H+ at the crack tip. It also reviews service pipelines in acidic corrosive media. The general processing technology of pipe joint engineering critical assessment (ECA) is investigated to provide a reference for the future development of technology in this field.