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API RP 939-C - Guidelines for Avoiding Sulfidation (Sulfidic) Corrosion Failures in Oil Refineries

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API RP 939-C, Guidelines for Avoiding Sulfidation (Sulfidic) Corrosion Failures in Oil Refineries, is a recommended practice developed and published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) that provides guidance on avoiding sulfidation corrosion in oil refining operations. This RP was originally published in 2009, and the most recent 2nd Edition was released in January of 2019.

API RP 939-C is directed at integrity professionals managing hydrocarbon process streams containing sulfur compounds, without the presence of hydrogen, that operate at temperatures above approximately 500 °F (260 °C) up to about 1000 °F (540 °C). For hydrogen-containing services, the threshold temperature is set at 450 °F (230 °C).

API RP 939-C provides background information on sulfidic corrosion and discusses the most common types of damage observed. It also covers specific root causes of sulfidation corrosion, methods to predict and monitor the corrosivity of systems, materials selection for new and revamped processes, and inspection and nondestructive examination (NDE) methods used for detecting sulfidation corrosion.

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Articles about API RP 939-C - Guidelines for Avoiding Sulfidation (Sulfidic) Corrosion Failures in Oil Refineries
November/December 2020 Inspectioneering Journal

A summary of some of the important topics that were discussed at the API Fall 2020 Refining and Equipment Standards Meeting that was held via virtual conferencing.

Authors: John Reynolds
May/June 2020 Inspectioneering Journal

A summary of some of the important topics that were discussed at the API Spring Refining and Equipment Standards Meeting that was held via virtual conferencing.

Authors: John Reynolds
March/April 2014 Inspectioneering Journal

High temperature sulfidation is probably the most well- known corrosion mechanism in the oil refining industry because it occurs in large sections of the refinery.

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