oa Fiberglass Casing And Tubing In Highly Corrosive Environments

The UER formation in the Dukhan Field, Qatar has an aquifer associated with it. The formation water and sour crude associated with the formation and aquifer lead to many corrosion-related problems, and casings are being replaced at an almost bi-annual rate. Our research proposal was to replace these with fiberglass casing and tubing. Any tubing and casing that is replaced would need to withstand similar pressures and temperatures as the original steel and fulfill the same functions. Despite plenty of mechanical testing data available on fiberglass as a material, there is very little existing research on fiberglass tubing and casing. This was essential as the manufacturing and therefore composition of fiberglass varies greatly depending on the application. Therefore field-specific, quantative and mechanical research on fiberglass casing and tubing is required. Before conducting physical research, we compiled industrial advantages of fiberglass through fiberglass manufacturer guarentees and product ratings. In the laboratory, we re-established the high resistance to corrosion of fiberglass, and demonstrated comparable resistances to compressive pressure and shear of fiberglass piping to that of steel. In some cases, the fiberglass even proved to perform better and failed at a higher pressure than steel. Latex cement was used to cement the casing and tubing models together, this cement is oil wet and bonds to the inner surface of the fiberglass piping. The cement bonded very well and held even after until the piping had failed under compression. Piping made of fiberglass would not only be cheaper to transport and install, but also more resistant to corrosion, lighter to handle and easier to push into deviated or horizontal wells. (Williams 1987). Overtime, there will be a lower cost of corrosion-control and remediation. Indeed, fiberglass casing and tubing can be employed in the place of steel not only in the UER formation, but in a large number of highly corrosive environments, both down hole and on surface. The use of fiberglass instead of steel casings will not only reduce the affect on the environment due to pollutants, but also contribute to material safety and cost savings.