Allan Zhong

Challenges for High-Pressure High-Temperature Applications of Rubber Materials in the Oil and Gas Industry

As deeper and deeper wells are drilled offshore, the well temperatures are hotter, and the downhole pressures are higher. The higher pressures and temperatures in these deepwater wells pose significant challenges for both metallic and nonmetallic materials. These challenges are especially serious for rubber and other polymer-based materials due to significant degradation of material properties that these extreme conditions cause. In this paper, a broad overview of the challenges for applications of rubber and other polymer-based materials in downhole tools under high pressure, high temperature environments will be presented along with current approaches taken by the industry to address these challenges. The need for new material development as well as fundamental understanding of rubber mechanics under HPHT conditions also will be discussed.