Friction and wear of zirconia and alumina ceramics doped with CuO

In this thesis, a wear model is developed that relates the properties of the materials and the operating conditions to the type of wear (mild or severe wear) experienced by dry sliding ceramic systems. The wear model is verified experimentally, and hence, with this model, one can determine wheather a dry sliding ceramic system will experience mild wear or severe wear

Evaluation of the elevated-temperature performance and degradation mechanisms of thread compounds

Thread compounds play an important role in the sealing ability of casing connections in the oil and gas industry. Next to their lubricating role during assembly, most of these thread compounds make use of nonbiodegradable or persistent particle additives to aid in the sealing ability. Replacing these additives for biodegradable and nonpersistent alternatives is, however, a challenge in high-temperature (>150◦C) well environments. This paper presents an investigation of the high-temperature failure mechanisms of thread compounds, with the aim of developing biodegradable high-temperature-resistant thread compounds. To this end, the performance of commercially available, environmentally acceptable thread compounds was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high-temperature rheometry, and high-temperature pin-on-disk experiments. The compounds are assessed for their stability, consistency, lubricity, and the resulting wear at high temperature. The results indicated that, without exception, the commercially available thread compounds investigated in this study fail by adhesive and/or abrasive wear at approximately 150◦C because of thermally induced degradation. To remedy this and to validate the found failure mechanisms, a prototype thread compound was developed. The conclusion was that a successful high-temperature-resistant environmentally acceptable thread compound can be developed using the methodology described. The key property of this thread compound is the ability to form a tribofilm during makeup that protects the surface at a later stage when the lubricant has lost its consistency and the base oil is fully evaporated

Evaluation of the elevated temperature performance and degradation mechanisms of thread compounds

Thread compounds play an important role in the sealing ability of casing connections in the oil and gas industry. Next to their lubricating role during assembly, most of these thread compounds make use of nonbiodegradable or persistent particle additives to aid in the sealing ability. Soon, these additives need to be replaced by benign alternatives as agreed in the proceedings of the Oslo-Paris Commission. This is, however, a challenge in high temperature (>150°C) well environments. This paper presents an investigation of the high temperature failure mechanisms of thread compounds with the aim to develop biodegradable high temperature resistant thread compounds. To this end, the performance of commercially available, environmentally acceptable thread compounds was investigated with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high temperature rheometry and high temperature pin-on-disc experiments. The compounds are assessed on their stability, consistency, lubricity, and the resulting wear at high temperature. The results indicated that, without exception the commercially available thread compounds investigated in this study fail by adhesive and/or abrasive wear at around 150 degrees Celsius because of thermally induced degradation. To remedy this and to validate the mechanisms, a prototype thread compound was developed which exhibits strong film forming. The conclusion is that a successful high temperature resistant environmentally acceptable thread compound can likely be developed. The key property of this thread compound should be the ability to form a tribofilm during make-up which protects the surface at a later stage when the lubricant has lost its consistency and the base oil is fully evaporated

On the sealability of metal-to-metal seals with application to premium casing and tubing connections

Metal-to-metal seals are used in connections of casing and tubing in oil and gas wells. This paper describes the mechanisms of sealing metal-to-metal seals as investigated using an experimental setup and a stochastic numerical sealing model. Experiments were conducted for a variety of thread compounds and applied pin/box surface coatings. The results were used to validate a stochastic numerical sealing model for sealability. The model couples a contact-mechanics model with a flow model and takes into account the influence of all the surface-topography features by introducing the concept of seal permeability. Once validated, the model was used together with the experimental results to better understand the sealing mechanisms of metal-to-metal seals. The sealing configuration is a face seal with an 80-mm roundoff radius on one face pressing against a flat on the other face. The face-seal specimens were manufactured from P110 tubing to ensure material properties that are representative for casing or tubing. The test setup used is designed for investigating only the metal-to-metal seal of the connection. The setup can perform rotary sliding under constant load to simulate surface changes during makeup and subsequently perform a leakage test. The sealing limit is determined by applying 700-bar fluid pressure and then gradually reducing the normal force until leakage is observed. The data are subsequently used to validate the previously published stochastic numerical sealing model. The results indicate a strong dependence on the type of thread compound used for the onset of leakage. The thread compound affects the amount of wear and thus changes the surface topography of the interacting surfaces. It is shown that the stochastic numerical sealing model is capable of predicting the onset of leakage within the experimental accuracy. The model shows further that certain surface topographical features improve the sealing performance. In particular, a surface manufactured by turning on a lathe that is in contact with, for instance, a smooth shot-blasted surface topography leads to highly localized contact areas, which in turn yield the best sealing performance