COM700 Downhole Tubular Coatings &
COM700 Downhole Tubular Coatings &
COM700 Downhole Tubular Coatings &
Linings
Abstract
In this section, there is general information about coatings and linings—selecting,
purchasing, handling, installing, and operating guidelines—drawn from field experi-
ence, industry publications, and vendors. Internal coatings and linings are two
choices for preventing corrosion in the steel base metal of downhole equipment.
Internal coatings enhance the flow of fluids and may help prevent the build up of
paraffin. Linings can salvage tubing.
The purpose of a coating or lining for downhole equipment influences both its selec-
tion and the means of achieving the desired performance. Connections are an impor-
tant consideration. For downhole tubing in oil and injection wells, the American
Petroleum Industry's (API) eight-round connections are commonplace, coated
routinely, and difficult to install holiday free
A high-integrity internal coating may be more difficult to achieve on premium
connections and typically requires more intensive evaluation and attention.
Consider selecting connections designed specifically for IPC and lined tubing. See
also Section 120 of this manual—for information on inspections and inspectors,
including specific procedures for downhole tubing—and the Quick Reference
Guide—for contacting Company's coating specialists, who are a primary resource
for these specialty coatings and linings.
Contents Page
Offshore wells. Wells located in remote or offshore areas make workover and
chemical treatment expensive. The cost of a coated string is usually a fraction of the
cost of a well or workover.
☞ Caution Because the constant rubbing damages the coating/lining, wells using
sucker-rod pumps for artificial lift are not typically considered candidates for coat-
ings or linings.
720 Descriptions
All coatings are available as 100 percent defect (holiday) free; however, damage
may occur during handling, installing, and well operations. For maximum corrosion
protection, coated tubing may need a suitable corrosion inhibitor.
721 Coatings
Thin-film coatings are generally 5 to 9 mils DFT; thick-film coatings generally
10 to 30 mils DFT. See Figure 700-1.
Phenolics
The Company has the longest history with phenolic coatings.
Advantages:
• Resistant to chemical attack (from pH 2 to pH 12)
• Withstand temperatures up to 300°F or higher
Disadvantages:
• Brittleness which limits their usefulness in preventing corrosion
• Limited DFT; not to exceed 9 mils DFT as brittleness worsens
• Gas-decompression problems, especially above 7,000 psi and if the coating is thick
• Susceptibility to mechanical damage from hitting or bending the pipe
Uses:
• As a primer under other thicker, more flexible coatings
• In high-temperature environments
Note Phenolics may be the only available coating material that can withstand
very high temperatures.
• Primarily for flow enhancement
☞ Caution When using phenolics for corrosion control, consider a corrosion-
inhibitor-injection program to protect the steel in areas of coating damage.
Modified Phenolics
Modified phenolics were developed to overcome the blistering of phenolics in high-
pressure gas wells. Decompressing high-pressure gas caused straight phenolics to
blister because the gas could not escape from the coating fast enough. Modified
phenolics contain calcium silicate to enable them to outgas more quickly.
Advantages:
• More resistant to decompression damage than straight phenolics
• High temperature, chemical, and H2S/CO2 resistance similar to the straight
phenolics
Disadvantages:
• Brittleness
Epoxy Phenolics
Adding epoxy to the phenolics reduces the brittleness of the coating.
Advantages:
• Improved flexibility
• Improved alkali resistance
• Temperature resistant to about 250°F (some brands, even higher)
Disadvantages:
• Reduced temperature and chemical resistance
• Reduced acid resistance
• Susceptible to mechanical damage or defects from handling, installation, and
operations such as wirelining
☞ Caution Consider applying corrosion inhibitors to protect steel exposed by
damaged coatings.
Modified Epoxies
Two types of modified epoxies are discussed below: powder-applied and
cresol-novolac.
Powder-applied epoxies. Powder-applied epoxies are more flexible and tougher
than liquid-applied epoxies, which are being phased out in the industry.
Advantages:
• Temperature limit of about 150–200°F
• Good chemical resistance to both acids and alkalis
Disadvantages:
• Somewhat brittle
• Corrosion inhibitors necessary if primarily for corrosion control
Cresol-novolac-modified epoxy. Adding cresol-novolac to epoxy results in
cresol-novolac-modified epoxy or epoxy-cresol novolac.
To optimize overall performance, vendors have varied the amount of cresol-novolac
for chemical resistance and flexibility. The propensity for mechanical damage may
limit this coating's usefulness in service.
Advantages:
• Greater chemical resistance than straight epoxies
• Temperature resistant to approximately 250°F
Disadvantages:
• Brittleness increases in relationship to increased chemical resistance
Nylon
Nylon is a relatively new coating for downhole tubing and accessories. A thermo-
plastic, rather than the thermoset of most IPCs, nylon has superior flexibility.
Advantages:
• Easy to apply
• One hundred percent holiday free
• Good chemical resistance up to about 180°F
• Very flexible and durable
Disadvantages:
• Extremely poor resistance to damage from wire-line tools
• Deterioration from acidizing when HCI above 15 percent or for extended
periods
Uses:
• Excellent for a low-temperature line pipe (small diameter) in corrosive service
722 Linings
Linings are holiday-free systems and have thicker internal corrosion barriers than
coatings. Except for cement, which is spun centrifugally on the ID surface, all
linings are physically inserted into the tubing.
The four lining materials presently available are cement, fiber-glass, PVC, and poly-
ethylene. Suppliers are also investigating other materials such as carbon fiber. See
Figure 700-2.
Cement
Cement lining has been available for many years.
Advantages:
• Cost effective
• Resists chemicals
• Withstands normal handling and installation
• Tolerates wireline work
Disadvantages:
• At a thickness of 150 to 210 mils, cement causes a significant reduction of the
tubing ID.
• Acids (HCl and mud acid) can damage cement.
Note Special additives are available to improve the acid resistance of cement.
• The weight of the cement limits the depth at which it can be used, with a prac-
tical limit of about 10,000 feet.
• For wells between 7,000 and 10,000 feet deep, the weight of the cement can
influence tubing selection.
• The temperature limit is about 300°F, primarily because of the plastic inserts
installed in the connections.
• Availability may be a problem in remote areas.
Uses:
• Holiday-free service in injection wells or non-rod-pumped producing wells
Fiberglass
Fiberglass-lined tubing is made by inserting a fiberglass tube of an aromatic amine-
cured epoxy inside the steel tube and then filling the annular space between the two
with cement grout. The resulting liner is about 60 to 80 mils thick.
Advantages:
• Holiday-free service
• Chemical resistance up to a maximum operating temperature of 350°F
Disadvantages:
• Some ID reduction
• Additional restrictions at flares on tubing ends
Uses:
• Primarily in injection wells
• Good service in non-rod-pumped producing wells
• Good choice for salvaging used tubing
PVC
PVC-lined tubing is similar to fiberglass-lined tubing, with either a cement grout or
an adhesive between the PVC and the steel tube. The thickness of the liner is 60 to
80 mils.
Advantages:
• Holiday free
Disadvantages:
• ID reduction
• Unsuitable for gas wells (the risk of liner collapse from gas permeation)
• Unsuitable with solvents (such as paraffin cutting agents)
Uses:
• Most suited to water injection wells up to about 150°F
• Good choice for salvaging used tubing
Polyethylene
Polyethylene-lined tubing is a recent development and has little proven field experi-
ence. The polyethylene liner is swaged down and pushed or pulled through the
tubing. It then re-expands into the tubing, leaving the polyethylene liner in compres-
sion. The end of the liner is molded to fit within the connection J area. The coating
industry is addressing concerns about gas permeation, softening at maximum
service temperature, and connection integrity.
Check with the CRTC's coating specialists (listed in the Quick Reference Guide)
for the latest information on the status of polyethylene linings.
Advantages:
• Extremely rugged
• Holiday-free and mechanical-damage-free service
Disadvantages:
• Significant ID reduction (150 mils thick)
• Temperature limit of about 150°F
• Concerns about gas permeation
• Softening at maximum service temperature
• Concerns about connection integrity
Uses:
• Most suited to water injection wells up to about 150°F
• Good choice for salvaging used tubing
Carbon Fiber
An ultra-high-temperature carbon-fiber liner and premium connection system is
presently undergoing testing. This product may have a working temperature of up
to 450°F.
723 Connections
Most downhole tubing in oil wells and injection wells have API eight-round connec-
tions. They are easy to coat but difficult to install 100 per cent holiday free.
Premium connections may be more difficult to coat internally.
Advantages:
• Connection with a flush ID instead of the discontinuous J-section in standard
API eight-round couplings
• Better seal
• Protection for the coating on the pin-ends in the J-section from wireline tool
damage
Disadvantages:
• Cost about three times as much as a standard coupling
Premium Connections
Non-API premium connections are highly specialized. Evaluate their suitability for
coating or lining on a case-by-case basis with the connection manufacturer and the
coating or lining applicator. Some premium connections may be unsuitable for
holiday-free coating application. Surface preparation (e.g., abrasive blasting),
coating, and make-up procedures must comply with the connection manufacturer's
recommendations.
730 Selection
For help in selecting coatings or linings, contact the coatings specialists listed in the
Quick Reference Guide.
731 Economics
Costs for coated or lined tubing and accessories vary significantly depending on the
size of the order, the location of the job, market conditions, and other factors.
Purchasing Guidelines
• For coated tubing and accessories, refer to Specification COM-MS-4732,
Oilfield Tubular Goods and Accessories—Internal Coating Application.
Assistance
For guidance on selecting coatings and linings, consult the Company's coating
specialists (listed in the Quick Reference Guide).
The following databases are also available:
• Company-purchased database of ARCO's lab test of coated tubing
• The Company's field-experience database
• The Company's lab-test database
The Company's databases are updated periodically to reflect the latest experiences
with tubular coatings and linings. Please send relevant field experience or lab test
information to the Company's coating specialists listed in the Quick Reference
Guide.
740 Application
See Figure 700-1 which lists common coatings for tubing.
The roughness of the surface (and not necessarily the depth of corrosion) deter-
mines the difficulty in applying a good coating. A uniform 50 percent wall loss
from generalized corrosion is easier to coat than a wall loss of only 5 percent
covered with sharp-edged pits. To determine whether or not the tubing is NSC (Not
Suitable for Coating), the coatings applicator should inspect each length of tubing
after cleaning and blasting and again after coating and holiday testing.
760 Installation
• After removing the thread protector, clean and lubricate (re-dope) the threads,
being careful not to damage the coating.
– Use a soft-bristle brush to clean connections.
– Never use a wire brush.
– Visually inspect each pipe end again and reject damaged joints.
• Always use stabbing guides to prevent damage to the coating on the pin end.
– Stab each connection with a properly sized rubber, plastic, or plastic-
coated stabbing guide.
– Lower the tubing into the stabbing guide slowly to prevent coating or
thread damage.
• Start tubing make up by hand; then use the tongs in low gear, at less than
25 rpm.
– Use backup tongs during make up, set only on the box.
– Do not use pipe wrenches for make up.
– Do not use slips for back up.
• To ensure contact of the pin and the coating in the standoff area of the
coupling, make up API connections properly.
– Unless an alternate procedure is required, make up API connections to
position while monitoring the torque to API specifications.
– Expose no more than 1½ threads after make up.
– Use a torque gage that reads directly in ft-lbs.
– Calibrate the torque gage every three months.
• Make up premium connections according to the connection manufacturer's
written recommendations.
• Stop travel of the IPC string completely before setting the slips. Lower the
string gently into the slips.
• Do not strike the pipe with any metal object (e.g., a hammer or pipe wrench)
even when breaking out connections. Do not allow the pipe to hit any metal
object (e.g., the mast).
• To pull the tubing and set it in stands in the derrick, install thread protectors on
the pin-ends or place a resilient pad or carpet on the rig floor to protect the
coated end of the tubing while it rests on the rig floor. If we are to lay the
tubing down through the V-door, install thread protectors on all pin-ends.
• When hydrotesting IPC tubing, advise the testing company that the well has
coated tubing. Obtain special hydrotest tools with rubber-encapsulated parts
(seal rings). As an alternative, consider external pressure-testing devices.
• With coated tubing and accessories in gas service, depressure at a rate no
greater than 2,000 psi per hour.
• Train crews involved in drilling, workover, pulling, wireline, and other field
work in the proper handling of coated or lined tubing and accessories. Films,
seminars, and other aids are available in the industry, and vendors are generally
willing to provide training.
780 References
1. Boyd, J.L. and Al Siegmund. “Plastic Coated Tubular Goods: Proper Selection,
The Key to Success.” NACE Paper 214: Corrosion ‘89.
2. L. J. Klein. “Database Package: Coatings for Downhole Tubular.” CRTC Mate-
rials Engineering File 6.30. Chevron Corporation. March 5, 1990.
3. Mitchell, R.K., “Coated Tubular Testing, Field Test Results, Hobbs Division,”
June 18, 1987 and August 27, 1987.
4. Strickland, L.N., “Mitigation of Tubing and Mandrel Failures in High Volume
Gas Lift Oil Wells, Thompson Field, Ft. Bend, TX.” NACE Paper 70:
Corrosion 1992.
5. Turnipseed, S.P. Internal Plastic Coatings Qualification Tests: Interim Report.
Chevron Corporation. April 15, 1992.
6. ———. Final Report. Chevron Corporation. December 16, 1992.
7. American Petroleum Industry. Recommended Practice for Application of
Cement Lining to Steel Tubular Goods, Handling, Installation and Joining.
API RP 10E. Washington, DC.
8. ———. Specification for PVC Lined Steel Tubular Goods. API 15LT.
Washington, DC.
9. ———. API RP 5A5, Section 4.8, National Association of Corrosion Engi-
neers. Care, Handling, and Installation of Internally Plastic-Coated Oilfield
Tubular Goods and Accessories. NACE RP0291. 1991.
10. ———. The Application of Internal Plastic Coatings for Oilfield Tubular
Gords and Accessories. NACE RP0191-91. 1991.