Nitrile Rubber—Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Abstract Nitrile rubber (NBR) has been the work-horse elastomer in oil and gas production for the past fifty years. Random seal and packer failures have been encountered in the more agressive fields. The higher temperatures and increasing percentages of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), naturally occuring or through well stimulation directly or indirectly, initiate the failure mechanism(s). Future applications of nitrile rubber in higher temperature production should only be considered after reviewing the range of potential chemical attacks that are possible by of the aqueous environment (well fluids, completion fluids and stimulation fluids). This paper briefly outlines the scope of chemical attacks that can and will be encountered.