Characterisation of elastomers used in drilling applications.
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: School of Engineering & Materials Scienc
Abstract
Schlumberger, the world's leading technology supplier to the oil and gas industry, are collaborating with QMUL to characterise the elastomer materials that they use in ground drilling applications. A modelling approach will be adopted to derive a suitable constitutive model, which can represent the elastomer components in a diverse range of numerical simulations. The elastomers are subjected to extreme environments including very large strains, rapid cyclical loading at huge pressures whilst undergoing extensive chemical exposure over a wide range of temperatures. The project will explore how to monitor the performance of these systems and predict the behaviour. The technological challenge will be to consider the complex interactions between mechanical and chemical degradation mechanisms.
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509322/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2020 | |||
| 1661406 | Studentship | EP/N509322/1 | 02/11/2015 | 01/11/2019 | Barnabas Shaw |
| Description | My research has currently lead me towards characterising the fatigue properties of the elastomer HNBR filled with carbon black. There's little research in this field of study within the scientific community. I've come across surprising material behaviour within this area of research which wasn't expected. Elastomers are amorphous materials and there's almost no research in the scientific community indicating HNBR is an exception to this rule or that it forms a structure when stretched. However, my research is indicating that a certain structure might be formed within the fatigue process, causing a tougher response than expected. The origin of this behaviour is still under development and discussion. The original objectives expect this research to characterise elastomers for drilling applications. This research certainly fulfills this objective in terms of characterising the elastomers fatigue properties. It is however still in development. I have also had a paper printed in a conference book, Constitutive Models for Rubber X, the url is provided below, |
| Exploitation Route | This research can be used by my sponsor company to understand how the elastomers in their drilling systems fracture, how quickly cracks form, how quickly it takes for the elastomer to reach the end of its service life and gives information to progress and develop tougher HNBR materials that last longer and that make the drilling process a safer and more efficient process. The project has been extended by another collaboration between QMUL and KTH in Sweden and a new research student it being recruited to extend my project into the modelling domain. The research also asks and answers questions related potential toughening mechanisms that are occurring within HNBR materials which could harnessed to the companies benefit. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Transport,Other |
| URL | https://www.crcpress.com/Constitutive-Models-for-Rubber-X-Proceedings-of-the-European-Conference/Lion-Johlitz/p/book/9781138030015 |
| Description | I have characterised materials of interest to my sponsor company in specific loading regimes. By characterising these materials, a material model can be developed which can then be used within a constitutive model to predict how a real service part will behave in operation. I generated the material models and fit them within constitutive models for my sponsor company to use to predict the behaviour of real working elastomeric parts. The sponsor has already started to adopt aspects of the characterisation data into their design code. My research is still under development and so making further work useful is still under development and discussion. My sponsor company understand that this research is worth investigating more and are making efforts to continue this research. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | EPSRC Industrial Case Award |
| Amount | £87,696 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EPSRC Voucher No: 20000155 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 08/2024 |