Reliable casing packer seal elastomers for the unusually severe geothermal environment at 260°C (500°F) did not exist in 1976. L'Garde, Inc. was awarded a contract to fulfill this need by the United States Department of Energy. Successful development was completed in 1979. Compounds based on four different polymer systems were developed which all exceed the contract requirements. Successful laboratory tests above 300°C (575°F) have been performed with packer seals. Field tests to as high as 317°C (603°F) have been performed as static O-rings in a cablehead. Successful dynamic drill bit seal tests were run with a presoak temperature of 288°C (550°F).

The successful compounds are based on the following polymer systems: EPDM (NordelR), FKM (VitonR), EPDM/FKM (NordelR/VitonK) blend, and propylene-TFE (AFLASR). Evaluation was performed on full-scale packer seals as well as O-rings by L'Garde. L'Garde ran comparison tests against commercially available elastomers including KalrezR. Case histories of other organizations which have laboratory and/or downhole experience with one or more of the developed compounds are presented. The applications include blowout preventors, dynamic drillbit seals, packers, and cableheads. Finally, an effort to actively transfer this technology to the industry is described.

Subject
Chemical compounds, Test methods, Organizations, Geothermal energy, Modeling, Synthetic brine, Extrusion, Polymers, Differential pressure, Brines, Elastomers, Elements, Oil
© 1981 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1981
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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