Test standards Alpine supports: API 6A, API 16C, NACE TM0187, NACE TM0296, ISO 23936, NORSOK M710,
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. Performing these tests under combined H₂S exposure, high temperatures, and high pressures allows your team to gather data for material selection, performance envelope development, and field readiness while meeting safety and regulatory requirements.
Alpine Expanded Capabilities
Test conditions we support:
- H₂S Concentration up to 100%
- Large and small vessels for single or multiple samples
- Temperature from cryogenic up to 350°C
- Pressure up to 40,000 psi
- Complete data acquisition of pressure, temperature, and time
- Pre- and post-exposure physical and analytical testing, including tensile, compression, hardness, TGA, DSC, and FTIR
- Testing of elastomers, polymers, metals, and composites
Alpine Polytech conducts H₂S sour aging at up to 350°C, 40,000 psi, and 100% H₂S concentration using large and small vessels for single or multiple samples. Controlled pressurization, depressurization, and temperature cycling are paired with full data acquisition. Pre- and post-exposure testing, including tensile, compression, hardness, TGA, DSC, and FTIR, on elastomers, polymers, metals, and composites ensures accurate evaluation of material performance in sour environments.
Testing Details
API 6A is a test performed at elevated pressures and temperatures to qualify wellhead and Christmas tree equipment for H₂S service. It defines material requirements and testing procedures for ensuring equipment can safely operate in sour environments while maintaining pressure integrity and mechanical performance.
API 16C is a test performed at elevated pressures and temperatures for choke and kill systems, focusing on qualification for sour service environments. The standard ensures that hoses and manifold components maintain pressure control capabilities when exposed to H₂S and other sour fluids during well control operations.
NACE TM0187 is a test performed to evaluate elastomer materials in sour liquid hydrocarbon environments. It involves immersing elastomers in H₂S-containing liquids at elevated temperatures and pressures while measuring mass, hardness, tensile properties, and volume changes to assess material compatibility in sour service.
NACE TM0296 is a test performed for elastomer aging in sour gas environments, including exposure to H₂S, CO₂, and hydrocarbons under pressure and temperature. The procedure evaluates volume change, hardness, and tensile properties post-exposure to determine elastomer suitability for sour gas service.
ISO 23936 is a test performed to assess the chemical resistance and long-term aging of nonmetallic materials, including elastomers, in H₂S and other sour environments. Testing is conducted at elevated pressures and temperatures in relevant media to predict service life and ensure materials maintain mechanical integrity in sour service.
NORSOK M710 is a test performed to qualify sealing materials, thermoplastics, and elastomers for H₂S and hydrocarbon service environments. It specifies aging and testing procedures under pressure and temperature in relevant media, referencing ISO 23936 for elastomer evaluations, to ensure long-term performance and chemical compatibility in sour conditions