Reza Fard, NOV Tuboscope
As companies move to lower their operating and maintenance costs, gas lift use has seen a dramatic increase in unconventional production patterns in the Permian Basin.1 Due to the corrosivity of acid gasses and the corrosive nature of produced water in these wells, asset protection is crucial to provide long-term production and minimize costly workovers. In this study, we will review a gas lift well in the Permian Basin that utilized internal plastic coatings as an alternative to traditional chemical inhibition methods.
The results of this study show the ability of a properly selected internal plastic coating, that is suitable for the environment, to protect the tubing string and gas lift mandrels from corrosion and scale deposit buildup. By providing a durable barrier between the steel substrate and corrosive environment, the coating offers a robust solution for maintaining long term asset integrity. This study highlights the potential benefits of internal plastic coatings in optimizing production efficiency and reducing operational costs in both the Permian Basin and other unconventional oil and gas regions.