Laboratory testing on composites to replicate oil and gas service

Abstract

Oil and gas reserves are being explored and produced in ever more hostile operating conditions. These include high levels of hydrogen sulphide or carbon dioxide in the production or injection stream, operations in colder climates, deeper water or remote regions. All of these conditions are pushing polymers (and metals) to their operating limits. This has resulted in a surge in the development of high performance polymeric materials and the final acceptance of materials such as fibre reinforced composites as a viable solution for steel replacement and protection where the benefits overcome the unfamiliar. However, with the materials close to their operating limits, there is a need to develop robust and improved methods to evaluate them in these harsh conditions to ensure reliability, fitness for purpose, service life and satisfy the doubters. This chapter will present some of the current testing methods for composites.