Potential Applications of Pultruded Polymer Composite Materials in Oilfield Infrastructure Development
Abstract
Potential Applications of Pultruded Polymer Composite Materials in Oilfield Infrastructure Development
Incoming article date: 21.05.2025This study investigates the applicability of pultruded glass fiber–reinforced polymer composites for structural components in oilfield infrastructure, focusing on their performance under aggressive environmental conditions. The introduction highlights the challenges of corrosion and logistics in traditional steel-based oilfield structures, proposing polymer composites as a viable alternative due to their low weight and high resistance to environmental degradation. The research objectives included evaluating the composites’ resistance to chemical exposure, freeze–thaw cycles, and climatic aging. Experimental methods involved testing density, water absorption, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity under simulated oilfield conditions, including immersion in 1 wt% NaOH and 10 wt% HCl, frost resistance tests in 5 wt% NaCl, and cyclic temperature–humidity exposure. Results showed that the composites maintained ≥90% tensile strength, ≥85% flexural modulus, and water absorption ≤0.5% after 240 hours of exposure, with no significant degradation observed. Statistical modeling identified serviceability thresholds for specific environmental parameters. The study concludes that pultruded polymer composites are feasible for oilfield infrastructure, offering comparable mechanical performance to steel with reduced operational costs.
Keywords: pultrusion, glass fiber composite, polymer composite, oilfield infrastructure, environmental degradation, mechanical property, chemical immersion, freeze–thaw cycling, climatic aging