Parker Industrial Products - Improving the performance in oilfield applications

Improving the performance in oilfield applications

The emergence of degradable and dissolvable materials is providing oilfield service companies an opportunity to increase efficiencies, cut costs and reduce overall carbon emissions by simplifying well completions. These materials replace their conventional metallic and composite counterparts in completion tools, but eventually break down and disperse when exposed to common completion fluids.

Sealing Challenge:

Design and supply rubber element for Dissolvable Frac Plug that can hold 10,000psi hydraulic pressure, then degrade in less than 7 days in typical completion fluids at temperatures of 160°-180°F.  

Sealing Solution:

Parker O-Ring & Engineered Seals (OES) Division offers degradable elastomer compounds which help to change the game in oilfield completion and stimulation jobs. Parker’s ZP204 product is a true elastomer formulation that provides physical properties like Nitrile (NBR) and Hydrogenated Nitrile (HNBR) rubber compounds which have proven track record of pressure holding capability of 8,000psi or greater.  However, after high pressure pumping is complete, the ZP204 compound will break over time to allow the rubber sealing elements to degrade into small flowable particulate that can be pumped back to the surface without clogging any screens or filters that may be in the path.  This degradable elastomer product offering from Parker OES Division allowed oilfield operator to eliminate the need for well interventions where a mill out or retrieval tool would be used.  Removing this intervention step resulted in increased rate to production, a safer work environment, reduced operating cost, and overall reduced carbon emissions for the worksite.