Effect of Hydrogen Sulphide on Wire Rope

Drilling operations in West Texas called attention to the brittleness induced in steel by contact with hydrogen sulphide. This paper is concerned with the investigation of this action on cable tool drilling lines. A sensitive test and the apparatus developed for determining embrittlement in wire are described. The effect of hydrogen sulphide on cold-drawn and annealed plain carbon steels of varying carbon content was determined, and the influence of carbon content and amount of cold work was evaluated. The probable mechanism of the action is explained. The values of several protective metallic coatings were also found.