Wear-corrosion-resistant materials for mechanical components in harsh environments

Abstract

In pumping the deviated and slant oil wells, many commonly used materials are readily attacked by the combined effect of mechanical wear and the harsh environment of the bottom hole. Three groups of new materials that include ceramics, alloys and hard coatings were evaluated for the downhole application. Two sets of tests, which involved scaling and corrosion for the first, and wear for the second, were carried out in parallel. The wear tests were further divided into reciprocating sliding and impact/fretting, in dry and in 2% sand slurry conditions. The investigation identified the wear mechanisms involved. The test results showed that a steel alloy with a titanium carbide composite in a martensitic matrix, and both nitrided and chrome-plated carbon steels could provide good wear resistance for both dry and slurry conditions.