Polymers for the Oil and gas Industry

ISO 9001:2008 Certified
Customized Solutions
Fast, Easy Installation
Superior Operating Life
Brady Walther
High Performance
Polymers for Oil and Gas
April 12, 2013, Houston TX
THE USE OF ENGINEERED POLYMERS FOR THE
TRANSPORT OF HYDROCARBONS WITH HIGH
LEVELS OF CO2, H2S AND BRINE TO ELIMINATE
CORROSION EXPERIENCED WITH STEEL PIPE LINES
IN THE OILFIELD

ISO 9001:2008 Certified
Superior Operating Life
AGENDA
 Key Design Considerations for Reinforced
Thermoplastic Pipes
 Liners
 Reinforcement
 Outer Sheath/Jacket
 Case Studies
2

Superior Operating LifeISO 9001:2008 Certified
History and Future of RTP Pipes
 Available for 15 Years
 Historical Focus
– Brine Flow Lines
– Natural Gas Lines
 Rapid Low Cost Installation was the
Primary Driver
 Lower Temperature Applications
(<140F)
 Flowing Liquid Hydrocarbons
– Aromatics
– Condensates
 Increased Exit Temperatures
– Horizontal Drilling Higher Flow
Rates
– Deeper Wells
 H2S and CO2 Environments
• History • Moving Forward

What Are Reinforced (“RTP”)
 Comprised of Three Distinct Layers
– Inner Liner for Fluid Transport
– Reinforcement Layer for Strength
– Outer Sheath/Jacket to Protect
Braid
 Each Layer Designed for the
Application

Key considerations for Inner Liners
 Chemical Compatibility
– Individual Components
– Interaction Among Components
 Permeation
– Impact of Liquids and Fluids
– Impact of Temperature
 Physical Properties
– Abrasion
– Cyclic Loading

Chemical Compatibility
• Nylon 11 Hydrolysis Impact in
Pure Water and a CO2/Water Mix
• PPS Affects in Norsok M710
Solution for Typical Sour Solution
Volume (%) Composition
30 3% CO2, 2% H2S, 95% CH4
10 Distilled water (conductivity < 5 S)
60 70% heptane, 20% cyclohexane, 10%
toluene

PPS H2S vs. CO2 Permeation Data
cc/M2-day
0.028
171
0.066
317
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
H2S CO2
23C 40/35C
H2S at 23 and 40 C and CO2 at 23 and 35C Source: Mocon

Impact of Temperature on PermeationCO2 Transmission Data
cc/M2-day
HDPE at 23 and 30C, MOCON Data Source
Nylon at 25C and 35C

Physical Properties of the Liners
Material
Mg
loss/1,000Cycl
es
304 Stainless 50 mg
Nylon 5 mg
PPS 17 mg
TFE 500
PP 15-20
• Taber Abrasion
Performance
• Cold Temperature Cyclic
Loading
Source RAL & George Fisher
• 1,000 Cycles with 300PSI
Amplitude
• 2 Degrees F
• Inspection for Crack

Key Design Considerations for Reinforcement Layer
 Long Term Static Design Strength
 Cyclic Loading Strength
 Chemical Compatibility

Long Term Static Design Strength
 Long Term Testing Per ASTM D2992
– Slope of Line is a Function of Reinforcement material
– Basis for all RTP’s

Impact of Cyclic Loading Utilizing Aramid Fibers
 275PSI Rated Pipe
 300PSI Pressure Cycle Amplitude
 100,000cycles (20 year Design
Cycles for APP)
 1 Cycle Per 2 Seconds
 No Change in Unreinforced Product
Sample Number Burst Pressure
(PSI)
Sample 1 1,885
Sample 2 2,016
Sample 3 1,958
Baseline 1,984
Sample Average 1953.3
Standard Deviation 65.6

Impact of High Temperature and Acidic Environment on
Aramid Fibers
 All Aramids are not the Same
 Assume the Outer Jacket of RTP will be Breached
 Test for Temperature and Environment

Key Considerations for Outer Jacket
 Abrasion Resistance
 Compatibility with Outside
Environment
 Toughness
– Cold Temperature
– Rapid Impact

Case Study: High H2S Gas Line
 750PSI Sour Gas
– 80,000PPM H2S
– 100,000PPM CO2
– 45C Operating Temp.
 PPS Lined RTP Inside of Steel
– Annulus Sealed
– Monitored with Nitrogen for H2S
Pick Up and Pressure

Results After 18 Months
 No Change in Fiber Strength in
High H2S/CO2 Environment
 Consistent PPS Micrographs
Aramid Fiber
Break Strength
(N)
New Un-aged 900 +/- 80
Aged Fibers 910 +/- 90

Case Study: High Temp High CO2 Oil Flow Line
 95C Operating Temperature
 > 25% CO2
 Oil/Brine/ Gas Flow Line
 PPS Lined, Nylon Jacketed

Results after 2 Years
 Ground was Saturated
– Nylon Subject to Hydrolysis
– Outer jacket replaced with Modified
PP
 Coated Carbon Steel Couplings
Corroded
– Sand Abrades Coating
– New Lines with Solid Duplex 2205
Stainless

RTP Pipes Can be Used in Severe Oilfield Environments
 Liners Must Be:
– Compatible with the Mix of Solutions
– Able to Handle Permeation at Temperature
 Reinforcements Must Be:
– Withstand Long Term Loads (Static and Cyclic)
– Compatible with the External Environment
– Different Grades of Reinforcements Has Different Properties
 Outer Jacket Must Protect the Reinforcment

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