The fracture and perforation failure analysis of downhole tubes
H. Ding,
H.B. Li,
Z. Zhang,
D.T. Qi,
G.Q. Qi,
X.H. Cai
Affiliations
H. Ding
Tubular Goods Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation & State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Equipment, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China; Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China; Corresponding author. Tubular Goods Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation & State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Equipment, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China.
H.B. Li
Tubular Goods Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation & State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Equipment, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China; Corresponding author.
Z. Zhang
Tubular Goods Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation & State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Equipment, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China
D.T. Qi
Tubular Goods Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation & State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Equipment, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China
G.Q. Qi
Tubular Goods Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation & State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Equipment, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China; Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
X.H. Cai
Tubular Goods Research Institute, China National Petroleum Corporation & State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Equipment, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China
：The downhole tubes were fractured and perforated after 5 years of shut-in due to high water cuts. This study employs a comprehensive array of analytical techniques to investigate the mechanisms behind fractures and perforations. Utilizing non-destructive testing (NDT), direct reading spectrometer, tensile strength testing machine, impact testing machine, optical microscope (OM), macroscopic fracture morphology observation, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy spectrum analysis (EDS), and sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) was studied. The reason for the fracture of the tubing is that under the condition of low pH value, high hydrogen sulfide environment, the tubing is fractured due to stress concentration caused by cracks in the outer thread relief groove. The perforation of the inner tube wall was caused by gradual wall thickness reduction under the influence of H2S, CO2, and Cl−, resulting in fouling and eventual perforation. To prevent tube corrosion during long-term shut-in, it is recommended to inject crude oil or diesel into the well.
