Successful Water Injection and Disposal Applications of Thermoplastic Lined Downhole Tubing: A Compilation of Case Histories Dating Back to 1998

Abstract

Thermoplastic liners are commonly used to protect a wide range of oilfield tubulars offering the advantages of increased corrosion resistance, wear mitigation, and ease of tubular installation while diminishing pressure drop issues and maximizing fluid throughput capacity especially in high rate wells operating with high-velocity fluids. Furthermore, they may offer a competitive advantage over corrosion resistant alloys (CRA’s), plastic coatings and thermoset liner products in extending tubular life. The most commonly used thermoplastic liners in water injection service are largely extruded from polyolefins for installation in environments up to 99°C ( 210.2° F); yet, for more demanding environments, engineering thermoplastics such as PPS are available to handle temperatures as high as 175°C (300° F). All of these polymers are significantly more flexible and impact resistant compared to traditional thermoset materials historically used to protect injection tubing meaning that they can be practically applied in harsh field conditions and maintain a protective barrier against the tubing ID even after pulling/rerunning tubing combined with multiple wireline and coiled tubing surveys. The same liners can be used to protect costly downhole components and jewelry such as packers and tubing anchors. Examples of lined tubulars with both API and premium tubular connections will be covered. This paper will present case studies detailing the successful use of thermoplastic lined tubulars including liner products composed of HDPE, a proprietary polyolefin blend, and PPS. All of the lined tubulars in these wells are still in service today and some were installed back in 1998. A review of the critical limitations of the liners such as temperature and diameter reduction effects will also be discussed in an effort to avoid the misapplication of thermoplastic liners. Economic benefits, improved service life, and better flow characteristics due to the high-quality surface finish of the liners will be detailed in thirteen different fields and water injection environments. Furthermore, to exhibit the overall economic impact of thermoplastic lined tubulars, a review of field installation and handling procedures will be presented as well. The fundamental technical benefits of various thermoplastic lined tubulars will be covered with an emphasis on the proven extension of tubing service life using thermoplastic liners.