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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
- COLD: The
Characterisation of Polymeric Materials in Cold (Down to -60°C)
Oil and Gas Production Condtions.
- EPIF-EORA: Evaluation of Polymers
in Injection Fluids for Enhanced Oil Recovery 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.
- NORSOK M710: ISO PROJECT 3. Continuation
of drafting ISO/DIS 23936-2 Elastomers Incorporating NORSOK M710
Rev. 3 and other
Non-sealing
Elastomer Applications.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
- 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.
COMPLETED PROJECTS:
- 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.
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- 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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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 - with Late Participation available
for a further 6 months |
| Duration |
Three years |
| Contact: |
Dr Rod Martin |
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EPIF-EORA: Evaluation of Polymers in Injection Fluids
for Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications |
| Aims: |
To develop a materials selection database for a wide
range of polymers under a wide range of EOR condtions |
| Scope |
Review and Defintion based on Participants' interests
- Materials
(Elastomers, Thermoplastics)
- Media (Supercritical CO2, Steam, Other)
- 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 April 2009 - 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 February 2009 - Late Participation available
for a further 6 months |
| Contact: |
Glyn Morgan |
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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 February 2009 - Late Participation available
for a further 6 months. |
| Duration: |
Three years |
| Contact: |
Dr Rod Martin |
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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 |
| Start Date: |
Project Start January 2009 - with Participation at any time |
| Duration |
Twelve months |
| Fee: |
£5000
£1000 to receive a summary of Project 2 deliverables for new participants. |
| Contact: |
Dr Rod Martin |
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CURRENT PROJECTS: |
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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.
To work with NORSOK in the revision to be put in place while ISO documents
are being balloted
To work with and support the ISO working group to draft the documents
for Parts 1 and Part 2 (other parts will require an extension to the
JIP)
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| Scope: |
Project 1 Review of ISO/DIS 23936-1 Thermoplastics
To offer technical comments on the DIS to JIP Members to assist in
the voting process.
Project 2 Revision of NORSOK
M-710 and Development of ISO/DIS 23936-2
- Establish a group of JIP Partners (Steering
Group) to identify and debate proposed revisions to the document
and approach
a consensus
on the methods and revisions.
- Test selected materials according
to the new methods and evaluate robustness.
- Re-draft the
Standard in ISO format for subsequent approval by the
JIP Partners
- Issue a 2008 revision to NORSOK M-710 to use
while the ISO standard is being balloted
- Help support the
submission of the document with the ISO Working group
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| Application: |
Oilfield |
| Start Date: |
Project 1July 2007 Duration 3 months
Project 2 October 2007 15 months – extended to March 2009 |
| Participation: |
Project 1 and/or Project 2:
StatoilHydro, FMC, BP, Du Pont, Victrex, Halliburton, Petrobras, HSE,
Expro, Aker Solutions, Bridgestone, James Walker, AGC Chemicals,
Exxon Mobil, Freudenberg, |
| Fee: |
£5000 |
| 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: |
Three years - currently running |
| Participants: |
MERL (co-ordinator) + 8 sponsors |
| Contact: |
Glyn Morgan |
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SOUR2 |
| Aims: |
Quantification 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: |
Three years - currently running |
| Participants: |
MERL (co-ordinator) + 8 (5 operators, 2 materials suppliers,
1 service company) |
| Contact: |
Dr Barry Thomson |
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COMPLETED PROJECTS:
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SOUR |
| Aims: |
Qualification of polymers in sour gas |
| Application: |
Oilfield |
| Duration: |
Completed |
| Participants: |
MERL (coordinators), Intertek, plus 4 sponsors (2 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: |
Mr Glyn Morgan |
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