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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
- ISO23936-4: Pre-normative
Research and Drafting of ISO/DIS 23936-4 Composites.
- PECA: Polymers
in Supercritical CO2 for EOR and CCS
Applications.
- SOURPERM: Characterisation
and Modelling of Sour Fluid Permeation in Oilfield Polymeric Materials.
- PIPEAGE: Developing Methodologies for Assessing
the Chemical Ageing of FRP Piping and Repair Material.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
- COLD: The
Characterisation of Polymeric Materials in Cold (Down to -60°C)
Oil and Gas Production Condtions.
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.
- 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.
- COMPAT: Compatibility
testing of polymers
- SOUR2: Quantification
of oilfield polymer performance in multi-phase sour fluids.
- SOUR: Qualification of polymers
in sour gas.
- 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.
- 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.
-
- Bonded Aluminium Automotive Structures - BAAS: To
develop a mixed mode fatigue durability test for bonded aluminium
structures
and evaluate long-term durability of joints.
- 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.
- 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.
- High Pressure High Temperature - HPHT: To
characterise dynamic sealing performance of seal stacks for PBR
completion systems.
- 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.
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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
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| 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: |
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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:
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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. |
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| 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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top
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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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top
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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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top
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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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top
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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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top
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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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