Role of Ecosystem Partners to Make Nonmetallic Downhole Tubulars a Reality

Abstract

Abstract Nonmetallic downhole tubulars offer a longer lifetime alternative than their steel counterparts while eliminating corrosion concerns and lowering total cost of ownership. However, making them a reality requires a rigorous ecosystem with multidisciplinary skill sets and technology expertise. This paper discusses the ecosystem challenges that face the development of such tubulars starting from academia and research institutes to complement expertise and computer computational power for design, modeling, and simulation, to material suppliers and manufacturing facilities for the pipe prototyping. This study also includes testing houses and standardization organizations for the pipe testing and qualification program as well as the needed logistics for transportation and storage, ending with the system implementation service providers for the qualification, deployment, operation, and retrieval of the downhole tubular systems. A detailed workflow for the integrations of the required ecosystem as well as examples are explained, and light is shed on the essential industry partnerships to make it happen. Focusing with examples on the Middle East region, multiple gaps need targeted localization of multidisciplinary capabilities, establishment of third-party startups and nourishment of small and medium enterprises, joint ventures, and joint industry programs. Specific focus was shed on the role of different ecosystem partners including pipe manufacturer, service provider, well operator, material suppliers, software developers, academia & research institutes, test houses, standardization institutes and logistics providers. Their contribution through the different phases of development, installation, lifetime, and retrieval of composite tubulars was described. This publication is believed to be the first that tackles such complex problem with a holistic overview and way forward to solve. With such recommendations, nonmetallic downhole tubulars would be made possible with the proper ecosystem in place.