Corrosion damage behaviors of rubber O-rings under simulated acid fracturing conditions

Abstract

To explore the damage behavior of O-ring in acid environment, a high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) autoclave was used to simulate the service environment of O-ring, and then 168h corrosion test of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and fluororubber (FM) O-rings were carried out. The corrosion damage behaviors of two kinds of rubber O-rings in the acidizing fluid were studied through determining their tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, permanent compressive deformation, tensile fracture morphology and sealing property. The results showed that the cross-sectional area and the compression permanent deformation increased, the tensile strength and hardness decreased when the HNBR and FM O-rings under the free state were subjected to acid corrosion. The elongation at break of HNBR decreased, and that of FM rubber increased greatly. Similar with free state, the HNBR and FM O-rings under sealed state also presented the same variation trend. The decrease in the reliability of the O-rings under the sealed state was less significant than that in the free state. In the test, tensile fractures were mostly brittle fractures, HNBR and FM O-rings had obvious corrosion damages such as deformation and swelling. The results could provide a technical basis for the selection of sealing materials, tool optimization design, and construction work in oil and gas fields.