Immersion Media

H₂S Immersion

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a toxic, corrosive, and flammable gas that occurs naturally in many oil and gas reservoirs and geothermal environments. In oil and gas operations, H₂S is often found alongside methane and CO₂, contributing to what is known as “sour service” conditions. When H₂S dissolves in water, it forms weak acids that can lead to material degradation, sulfide stress cracking (SSC), hydrogen embrittlement, and accelerated corrosion in susceptible materials.

Exposure to H₂S presents severe challenges for materials. H₂S can chemically degrade elastomers and polymers, leading to softening, cracking, or volume changes that result in seal failures. Additionally, the presence of H₂S, CO₂, hydrocarbons, and water can significantly accelerate corrosion rates. Testing materials and components in H₂S environments ensures your equipment will maintain mechanical integrity, sealability, and chemical resistance under sour service conditions, reducing unplanned downtime, leaks, and safety risks in critical operations. 

Brine Immersion

Brine testing is used to evaluate how elastomeric and polymer materials perform in high-salinity environments commonly found in oil and gas wells. Brine is a term used to describe water saturated with dissolved salts, ranging from sodium chloride to complex mixtures like calcium bromide, zinc bromide, and real or synthetic seawater. These fluids are commonly encountered in downhole and subsea environments. Due to their chemical aggressiveness, exposure to brine can cause embrittlement, surface deposits, and long-term property degradations in sealing materials. Examples of this damage can be seen below.

Damage like embrittlement can cause cracking and surface degradation, leading to seal failures. Surface deposits can cause unwanted interaction between materials and can accelerate wear. Unpredictable property degradation can cause a decline in sealing performance. It is important to use materials that are tested and verified to be resistant to the brines present in operating conditions.

Common brines used for testing include NaCl, CaCl₂, ZnCl₂, CaBr₂, synthetic and real seawater as well as bespoke mixes

Acid and Base Immersion

Acids and bases are some of the most aggressive chemical environments that elastomers and plastics may encounter, including in oilfield, completion, and well service applications. These chemicals are present in treatment fluids, with hydrochloric acid being frequently used in completion operations. Exposure to acids and bases can result in significant material degradation, especially in elastomers. Damage can include swelling, blistering, softening, and in extreme cases, full dissolution of the material. Examples of this damage can be seen below.

Damage like this can be catastrophic to equipment in extreme pH situations, causing hazardous environments and work site delays. Alpine often runs tests with common acids such as HCl, HF, HNO₃, and CH₃COOH, and bases such as NaOH, but can run bespoke tests with reagents and concentrations that match our customer’s needs. Testing with Alpine ensures that your materials perform as expected in acidic or basic conditions.

Common acids and bases used for testing include HCl, HF, HNO₃, CH₃COOH and NaOH as well as bespoke mixtures

Hydrocarbon Immersion

Hydrocarbons are a common chemical exposure in oilfield environments, and their effects on elastomers and plastics must be understood to ensure long-term material performance. These compounds, such as kerosene, toluene, and standardized NORSOK test mixtures, can cause significant material degradation, particularly in elastomers. Common effects include swelling, softening, or chain scissions in the polymer structure that can cause degradation. Examples of this damage are shown below.

Due to the importance of oil and gas operations, it is imperative to avoid these kinds of damage. Alpine conducts hydrocarbon compatibility testing by simulating realistic downhole conditions. Our approach helps customers understand how materials behave in high-temperature, high-pressure, and chemically aggressive environments, ensuring that the most suitable materials are chosen for critical service use.