Integrity Assessment of High-Performance PVC Pipes for Thermal Wells

In wells with high-viscosity crude oil, steam injection is used to improve the fluidity of the heavy oil. Screens made of steel are employed for sand control, with corrosion being a serious problem. Non-metallic pipe materials, such as novel high-strength PVC, are therefore being tried out. This paper presents the results of an integrity assessment of large-diameter hard PVC pipes under compressive loading. Plain, built-up, and slotted pipes were subjected to a 3-month aging process in saline water. Strain gauge sets were used for dynamic testing of longitudinal and transverse deformations. Values of fracture strength, total deformation, and anisotropy (Poisson's ratio) were extracted from the stress-strain graphs and analyzed. Upon aging in saline water, the stiffness of all pipes increased and was the highest for slotted pipes. Maximum stress after soaking was reduced by 11-12%. The ductility was the highest for plain pipes and the lowest for built-up pipes. Poisson's ratio remained almost constant for all pipes and aging conditions. The good news for field applications is that overall, aging had only a minor impact on the major compressive properties. The main conclusion was that corrosion-prone steel pipes and sand screens can be successfully replaced by corrosion-free high-strength PVC pipes and screens for water transport applications in thermal wells. This work provides a scientific basis for the structural integrity assessment of this new PVC and helps field engineers in the proper pre-deployment selection of pipes for target oilfields.