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Industry Funded Consortium Projects:
Consortium projects are fully funded by a group of organisations on a cost sharing basis. Projects usually have a strong industrial focus and international participation. Typically projects are 2 - 3 years duration and in some cases are continued into a second phase. Participants in consortium projects monitor and guide the work programmes via a project steering committee. Benefits of participation include cost effectiveness and direct influence on the work programme. MERL is proactive in developing new projects; if you have a particular research need that you would like to discuss contact Dr Rod Martin.

OPEN PROJECTS: The following projects are open for participants to join

  1. ISO23936-4: Pre-normative Research and Drafting of ISO/DIS 23936-4 Composites.
  2. PECA: Polymers in Supercritical CO2 for EOR and CCS Applications.
  3. SOURPERM: Characterisation and Modelling of Sour Fluid Permeation in Oilfield Polymeric Materials.
  4. PIPEAGE: Developing Methodologies for Assessing the Chemical Ageing of FRP Piping and Repair Material.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

  1. COLD: The Characterisation of Polymeric Materials in Cold (Down to -60°C) Oil and Gas Production Condtions.

COMPLETED PROJECTS:

  1. NORSOK M710: ISO PROJECT 3. Continuation of drafting ISO/DIS 23936-2 Elastomers Incorporating NORSOK M710 Rev. 3 and other Non-sealing Elastomer Applications.
  2. NORSOK M710 -> ISO Project 1 and Project 2: A JIP to produce a revised version of NORSOK M-710 and convert this into an ISO Standard Review of ISO/DIS 23936.
  3. COMPAT: Compatibility testing of polymers
  4. SOUR2: Quantification of oilfield polymer performance in multi-phase sour fluids.
  5. SOUR: Qualification of polymers in sour gas.
  6. Design Analysis with Fracture Mechanics - DAFM: Develop and validate finite element based methodology for fatigue life assessment of structural adhesive joints in automotive body structures.
  7. Elastomer Bonding - ELBO: Development of novel rubber/rigid substrate bond test methods for characterisation of bond durability and strength. Bonding agents include aqueous and solvent based types and substrates include various metals, thermoplastics and composites.
  8. Life Assesment of Bonded Structures - LABBS:To develop a combined fatigue and environmental exposure accelerated durability test for adhesive joints in automotive vehicle structures.
  9. Bonded Aluminium Automotive Structures - BAAS: To develop a mixed mode fatigue durability test for bonded aluminium structures and evaluate long-term durability of joints.
  10. Chemical Ageing of Plastics and Performance - CAPP: To develop a new accelerated ageing methodology for thermoplastics linking hostile environmental effects under strain with chemical analysis of material structure changes.
  11. Fatigue Life of Elastomeric Components - IFL: To develop and verify new finite element software to calculate the fatigue life of elastomeric components using an integrated fracture mechanics and finite element approach.
  12. High Pressure High Temperature - HPHT: To characterise dynamic sealing performance of seal stacks for PBR completion systems.
  13. International Seal Life: To develop new tests for and knowledge of key parameters such as high pressure gas permeation that affect seal performance.


OPEN PROJECTS: The following projects are open for participants to join.

  ISO23936-4 Composites
Aims: To draft ISO23936-4 on Composites and support through ISO balloting with the support of the industry
Scope The standard will be based around future and current composite applications/components where material test methods will need to be developed or existing ones used differently to evaluate the composite materials. Materials will be procured and tested according to the new/modified draft procedures to ensure robustness. The overall ISO document will be drafted and supported through the ISO process to FDIS level.
Application Oilfield
Start Date January 2011
Duration Up to 3 years
Contact Dr Rod Martin

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  PECA: Polymers in Supercritical CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery and Carbon Capture and Storage Applications
Aims: To develop a materials selection database for a wide range of polymers under a wide range of EOR and CCS condtions
Scope Review and Defintion based on Participants' interests
  • Materials (Elastomers, Thermoplastics)
  • Media (Supercritical CO2)
  • Condtions (Mild to Harsh to cover full range)
Identify relevant post-exposure (material and functional) tests to perform.
To conduct evaluation tests using the above parameters
To assemble web-based database for materials selection and guidelines
Application Oilfield
Start Date Project start Sept 2010 - Later Participation available for a further 6 months
Duration 2 years
Contact Dr Rod Martin

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  SOURPERM: Characterisation and Modelling of Sour Fluid Permeation in Oilfield Polymeric Materials
Aims: To develop data, knowledge, test and modelling methods and a predictive capability to enable sour fluid permeability of relevant oilfield structures to be quanitfied.
Scope: To include flexible risers, flowlines and lined pipe and seals
To include thermoplastics, elastomers, composites and novel materials such as nano-particle filled polymers
To evaluate time to permeation of sour gas in mixed gases
To use existing, and develop new, methods for measuring sour permeation
Application: Oilfield
Start Date: Project start Sept 2010 - project in 3 seperate phases
Contact: Dr Rod Martin

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  PIPEAGE: Developing Methodologies for Assessing the Chemical Ageing of FRP Piping and Repair Material
Aims: To develop data, knowledge, test and modelling methods, and a predictive capability for FRP pipes to enable service life assessment to be carried out based on defined service environements.
Scope: To address FRP pipe including
  • GRP (glass reinforced plastic) as the main focus of the project
  • CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic)
  • Repair laminates
To address all forms of fluid transport and conditions including potential future uses.
To investigate internal ageing (not external ageing or damage).
Application: Project Start Sept 2010 - Late Participation available for a further 6 months.
Duration: Three years
Contact: Dr Rod Martin

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CURRENT PROJECTS:

  COLD: The Characterisation of Polymeric Materials in Cold (Down to -60°C) Oil and Gas Production Condtions
Aims: The aim of the proposed JIP is to develop knowledge, testing methods, data and a robust qualification procedure for the selection and use of elastomers and thermoplastics in Oil and Gas operations at freezing condtions down to -60°C, typical of frozen regions (Arctic, Siberian...). The Joule-Thomson effect with respect to blowdowns, etc will also be investigated.
Scope: To include all polymers with emphasis on elastomers (seals, hose bearing), thermoplastics (seals, insulation, liners), composites (pipes, liners)
To include cold temperatures from; operations in Cold Climates, blow-downs, Joule-Thompson Effect...
To focus on temperatures from high to ambient to -60°C at the lowest.
To address influences of time, chemical compatibility, and load
Application: Oilfield
Start Date: Project Start February 2009 - running for 7 partners but still opportunities to join
Duration Three years
Contact: Dr John Harris

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COMPLETED PROJECTS:

  NORSOK M710: ISO PROJECT 3. Continuation of drafting ISO/DIS 23936-2 Elastomers Incorporating NORSOK M710 Rev. 3 and other Non-sealing Elastomer Applications
Background: A continuation of earlier projects 1 and 2 (see below)
Aim: To issue a revised version of NORSOK M-710 and incorporate it into ISO 23936-1,2 documents encompassing new materails/fluid knowledge and more robust methodologies to qualify polymers for HPHT service.
To work with NORSOK in the revision (NORSOK M Revision 3) to be put in place while ISO documents are being balloted to work with and support the ISO 23936 working group to draft the documents for Part 1 and Part 2 (other parts will require an extension to the JIP)
Application: Oilfield
Duration Completed - 7 sponsors
Contact: Dr Rod Martin

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  NORSOK M710 -> ISO Project 1 and Project 2
A JIP to produce a revised version of NORSOK M-710 and convert this into an ISO Standard Review of ISO/DIS 23936
Aim: To issue a revised version of NORSOK M-710 and incorporate it into ISO23936-1,2 documents encompassing new materials/fluid knowledge and more robust methodologies to qualify polymers for HPHT service.
Application: Oilfield
Duration: Completed
Participation: 15 Sponsors (4 Operators, 4 Service companies, 6 material suppliers, 1 Agency)
Contact: Dr Rod Martin

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  COMPAT
Aims: Realistic compatibility testing of polymers in liquids. Develop service relevant exposure testing methods and high pressure sealing force rig. Issue polymer selection guideline, design and material specifications and lifetime prediction methodologies.
   
Application: Oilfield
Duration: Completed
Participants: MERL (co-ordinator) + 8 sponsors
Contact: Dr Rod Martin

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  SOUR2
Aims: Evaluation of oilfield polymer performance in multi-phase sour fluids
Scope Long term (>1 year) ageing; high temperature (>250 °C) exposures; >120 materials
Application: Oilfield: Production and Processing
Duration: Completed
Participants: MERL (co-ordinator) + 8 (5 operators, 2 materials suppliers, 1 service company)
Contact: Dr Barry Thomson

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  SOUR
Aims: Evaluation of oilfield polymers in dry sour gas environments
Application: Oilfield
Duration: Completed
Participants: MERL (coordinators), 7 sponsors (5 operators)
Contact: Dr Barry Thomson

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  Design Analysis with Fracture Mechanics - DAFM
Aims: Develop and validate finite element based methodology for fatigue life assessment
of structural adhesive joints in automotive body structures
Application: Automotive
Duration: Completed
Participants: BMW
Contact: Dr Salim Mirza

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  Elastomer Bonding - ELBO
Aims: Development of novel rubber/rigid substrate bond test methods for characterisation of bond durability and strength. Bonding agents include aqueous and solvent based types and substrates include various metals, thermoplastics and composites
Application: Automotive, mining, energy, consumer goods
Duration: Completed
Participants: C F Gomma, Lord Corporation, Hutchinson, Trelleborg, Metso
Contact: Dr Barry Thomson

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  Life Assesment of Bonded Structures - LABBS
Aims: To develop a combined fatigue and environmental exposure accelerated durability test for adhesive joints in automotive vehicle structures
Application: Automotive
Duration: Completed
Participants: Volvo (S), Hydro Aluminium (N), DaimlerChrysler (D), BMW (D), Renault (F), Sika (Ch), Henkel (D), PPG (UK/ES), Dow Automotive (UK)
Contact: Mr Peter Hansen

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  Bonded Aluminium Automotive Structures - BAAS
Aims: To develop a mixed mode fatigue durability test for bonded aluminium structures and evaluate long-term durability of joints
Application: Automotive
Duration: Completed
Participants: Volvo (S), Hydro Aluminium (N), Alcan International (UK)
Contact: Mr Peter Hansen

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  Chemical Ageing of Plastics and Performance - CAPP
Aims: To develop a new accelerated ageing methodology for thermoplastics linking hostile environmental effects under strain with chemical analysis of material structure changes
Application: Oil and gas (flexible pipe, umbilicals)
Duration: Completed
Participants: TRI (US partners), Exxon (US), Norsk Hydro (N), Conoco/Dupont(US), ELF (F), NASA (US)
Contact: Dr Barry Thomson

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  Fatigue Life of Elastomeric Components - IFL
Aims: To develop and verify new finite element software to calculate the fatigue life of elastomeric components using an integrated fracture mechanics and finite element approach
Application: Mounts and bearings (automotive, aerospace, oil and gas)
Duration: Completed
Participants: MSI (US partners), BTR (UK), Barry Controls (US), Lord Corporation (US), Exxon (US), Saga (N), Skega (S), Trelleborg (S), Grace Rollin (F), Goodyear (L), Oil States Industries (US)
Contact: Dr John Harris

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  High Pressure High Temperature - HPHT
Aims: To characterise dynamic sealing performance of seal stacks for PBR completion systems
Application: Oil and gas (downhole completions)
Duration: Completed: Novel seal stack design patented
Participants: Texaco (UK), Exxon (US), Shell (UK), BP (UK), Saga (N), James Walker (UK)
Contact: Dr Barry Thomson

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  International Seal Life
Aims: To develop new tests for and knowledge of key parameters such as high pressure gas permeation that affect seal performance
Application: Oil and gas
Duration: Completed
Participants: BHRG (UK partners), Exxon (US), Amoco (US), Shell (N), MoD (UK), DoE (UK), BP (UK), Saga (N), Norsk Hydro (N), Baker Oil Tools (US), FMC (US), Conoco/Dupont (US)
Contact: Dr Rod Martin

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Tel: +44(0)1462 427 850
Polymer Engineering, Testing, Inspection, Research and Development, UK