Oil & gas elastomers need more “real-life” testing, expert warns

London – Materials suppliers need to do more to improve the “real-life” testing of elastomers used in the oil and gas sector, a leading scientist has warned.

Speaking to ERJ, Vince Coveney of Bath University said conditions downhole are becoming increasingly difficult, so more rigorous testing is required.

Components, he commented, “aren’t failing us yet, it is just that conditions downhole are set to become even more difficult for elastomers. New elastomer formulations or even new materials may need to be developed for these new conditions – and soon.”

One of the main challenges, said the academic, is that pressures up to 2000 bar, and even higher, are likely to be encountered regularly downhole.

“Some mechanical tests performed at high pressure on elastomers have been reported,” said Coveney. “However, such tests are rare, and the ageing conditions and the tests themselves are often very limited.

“We know of certain places carrying out some useful types of testing, such as DSC [differential scanning calorimetry] at high pressure – but at 500 bar rather the 2000 bar. So a lot more is required.”

Coveney went on to notes that downhole conditions are complex as well as difficult, with temperature, fluids present and pressure playing important parts.

“By ‘complexity’ I mean that many combinations of types and concentrations of fluids and levels of temperature and pressure occur downhole and these factors – fluids, temperature, and pressure – can interact in their effects on the ageing of and on the instantaneous properties of an elastomer,” he explained.

“Achieving good elastomer solutions for the more severe conditions in a timely and cost-effective manner will require more appropriate testing than is commonplace at present,” concluded Coveney.