ARMACOR CASE STUDIES

RISER FAILURE IN ULTRA-DEEP WATERS

A major offshore drilling contractor was experiencing a rapid increase in riser failures as water depth increased. Aramcor was used in this application primarily due to its low friction coefficient.

It was determined that these riser failures were driven by wear caused by high drill string tension pulling the rotating tool joints against the curved sections of the riser. The contractor found that when the risers and casings were made of materials with comparable physical properties, riser wear was five times faster than casing wear.

The contractor also found that in ultra deepwater drilling, the temperature of the tool joint surface was exceeding 1400 degrees F (759 C), the point at which heat checking was beginning to occur. At this temperature, hardbanding composed primarily of carbides was softening and wearing away easily. The hardbanding wear problem was solved by changing the hardbanding material to ARMACOR which delivered improved performance due to its 45% alloy composition. It also remains stable up to 1,700 degrees F (926 C).

ADDITIONAL CASE STUDIES

Casing Wear In North Sea And Colombia
Hardbanding To Meet The Abbrasive Geology Of The Barnett Shale