Background
Sour gas also known as hydrogen sulfide or H2S, is commonly encountered within the oil & gas industry. Although not actually an acid, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) readily forms sulfuric acid when it comes in contact with moisture. At elevated temperatures and pressures sulfuric acid becomes extremely corrosive affects the corrosion deep hot oil & gas wells. Additionally the corrosive effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are compounded when wells are stimulated by the practice of acidizing. This technique injects strong acids such as HCl, HF, acetic acid and formic acid into deep wells creating a corrosive cocktail.
Materials
As well depths go beyond 35,000 ft. the materials needed to survive both chemically and mechanically in these environments has become a challenge. Traditional high strength steels and even nickel alloys struggle to provide the corrosion resistance needed for tubulars and sensitive instrumentation. Furthermore the in deep wells the strength to weight ratio of materials becomes a significant factor.
In these extreme environments tantalum metal shows no corrosion rate in sour gas (H2S). Furthermore with Ultramet CPT’s tantalum diffusion technology the ability to combine extreme corrosion resistances with toughness, and lightness of weight is possible. This unique combination of material properites breaks the barriers of traditional materials.
