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Marginal fields demand ED-resistant material

As oil prices rise and marginal fields become financially viable, the technology needed to work deeper, hotter and at higher pressures must grow in tandem.
Explosive decompression (ED) is one of the most important factors involved. This phenomenon can destroy rubber seals both downhole and at the wellhead, and in upstream pipelines and controls.
For over two decades, James Walker has led the world in the development and application of ED-resistant elastomers. It also participates in joint industry projects to model ED mechanisms and create predictive performance software.

Flagship grades
With five flagship grades widely approved and specified by oilfield operators and OEMs — plus numerous other grades in the background — the company covers a very broad spectrum of ED duties, whilst satisfying complex chemical compatibility and temperature requirements.
However, increasingly difficult well conditions as experienced in the field continue to push forward the performance envelopes of specialised elastomers.
This is when James Walker’s materials engineering team is brought in to formulate and test new compounds. Using extensive laboratory and manufacturing equipment, backed by top-level expertise in elastomer technology, the team develops materials to work in the most arduous environments.
Samples are produced and their specific qualities proven by exhaustive in-house testing, backed by third-party certification to national and industry standards.
James Walker’s ultimate objective is to achieve optimised ED resistance, combined with desirable sealing characteristics and chemical compatibility to en-sure maximum seal reliability.

World-class ED test facilities
This work is so important that James Walker has some of the most advanced materials testing and analysis systems in the world. These include two eight-flange rigs for testing ED-resistant elastomers under high-pressure methane/CO₂ mixtures at elevated temperatures with another two rigs soon to be installed — facilities that very few other companies possess.
When the new rigs are operational, two rigs will be used for materials development, with another dedicated to testing for customer-specific certification, and the fourth used for in-house quality assurance.
“We work constantly in partnership with companies worldwide to develop new materials and fluid seals for oilfield use,” confirmed Trevor Clarke, James Walker’s global business manager for oil and gas sector operations.
“It was ED problems in North Sea fields that first involved our scientists in the trouble-shooting aspects of the oil and gas industry. We’ve stayed ahead of the field ever since — with a service that matches the needs of this fast moving sector.”

Photo-caption
(Above) ED-resistance testing.

13 Apr 06