A PROPOSED RECOMMENDED PRACTICE TO DETERMINE ELASTOMER/OIL MUD COMPATIBILITY

摘要

The effects of drilling fluids, particularly oil based fluids, on non-metallic materials used in drilling operations can have significant impact on the success, and cost, of these operations. Oil based drilling fluids, in particular, can chemically and physically alter elastomers used in drilling operations, causing premature elastomer failure, with costly, and sometimes even catastrophic results. The nature and amount of alteration depends upon the chemical formulation of the drilling fluid, the chemical formulation of the elastomer, temperature and pressure. Laboratory testing to determine potential effects in a prospective application is prudent and becoming common. Companies concerned with such effects have generally done fluid/elastomer compatibility testing by methods developed in-house, making test result comparisons within the industry difficult. An API proposed "Recommended Practice" for testing elastomer/oil mud compatibility is intended to tailor and standardize the test procedure(s) for the drilling fluids industry.