Selecting the Proper Polymers for

Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipes and Tubing

(RTP) and Protocol for Ongoing Integrity
Assurance for More Severe Oilfield
Environments

NACE Conference
Quito, Ecuador

Peter K Han Phd, Specialty RTP

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Why the Presentation?
• RTP has Replaced Steel in Many
Applications
• Product Applied to More Severe
Environments
• H2S, CO2, Condensates
• Temperature
• Pressure

• Different Polymers Better in

Certain Environments
• What Questions Should Be Asked
to Select the Right Polymers
What are Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipes
and Tubing (RTP)?
• Three Layer System
• Inner Liner . . . Chemical Resistance,
Permeation Barrier, Smooth Flow
Path
• Reinforcement . . . Static and Cyclic
Strength, Chemical Resistance
• Jacket . . . Abrasion Resistant,
Chemical Resistant to External
Environment

• Match the Polymers for Each

Layer to the Environment

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 Nylon 11: Source Arkema

Liners

• Test the Mixture in a Flow

Stream not Individually
• Combined Can Change Impact
• Dry vs. Wet CO2

• Temperature Has a Huge

Source JIP RTP Study Impact on Polymers
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Liners: Looking for Stability over Time

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Liners: Permeation
CO2 Transmission Data cc/M 2 -day
• Polymer Sensitive 20000
18000
• Temperature Sensitive 16000
14000 Fortron
• Does not Damage Liner but Gas 12000 Peek

Pressure in Reinforcement 10000 PVDF

ECTFE
8000
Layer 6000 Nylon
HDPE
• Potential for Collapse 4000
2000
• Rupture of Jacket 0
23C 35C 85C
• Minimize or Vent
HDPE at 23 and 30C, MOCON Data Source
Nylon at 25C and 35C

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Reinforcement

• Cyclic and Static Strength

• API 15S Puts Suppliers through
Rigorous Tests

• Chemical Compatibility
• Ask for Data for Actual Grade of
Material
• Test at Temperature

Hydrolysis of Aramid Fibers in Acidic Environments

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 Jacket:
• Abrasion Resistance
• Taber Abrasion Test
• Real Life Data

• Chemical Compatibility

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 Ongoing Pipe and Tubular Integrity
• Corrosion Is Not the Issue
• Smart Pigging Doesn’t Help

• Stability in Properties over

Time
• Pipe/Tubing Section In Line at Hot
End
• Test 1,3,5 Years +++
Strength in lbf Sample A Aged Sample B Unaged
• Measure: Burst Strength, Braid Sample1 258 264
Strength, Molecular Weight Loss Sample 2
Sample 3
263
244
229
242

• Graph and Look for Stable Sample 4

Sample 5
242
260
261
249
Properties Average 253 249
Standard Deviation 8.7 12.7

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What should an Operator Ask When Selecting
RTPs? • Liner
• Chemical Compatibility of Mixture
• Hydrolysis or Swell Resistance
• Permeation

• Reinforcement
• Static and Cyclic Load Strength
• Chemical Compatibility

• Jacket
• Abrasion Resistance
• Chemical Compatibility

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Questions?

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