Erosion is a major factor affecting the performance and service life of hydraulic fracturing sleeves, increasing maintenance requirements and the risk of equipment failure in oil and gas operations.
Hardide highlights how high-pressure fluids, abrasive proppants and repeated operating cycles gradually wear down frac sleeve surfaces. As erosion progresses, components can lose dimensional accuracy, develop surface damage and become less effective at controlling fluid flow.
Frac sleeves are used in well completion systems to control fluid movement during hydraulic fracturing. They must withstand demanding conditions, including high pressures, abrasive materials and exposure to corrosive environments.
One of the main causes of erosion is the movement of sand and other proppants through the equipment at high velocity. These particles repeatedly impact internal surfaces, gradually removing material and weakening components. The severity of the damage depends on operating pressures, fluid velocity, particle characteristics and exposure time.
Wear can affect the reliability of sleeve mechanisms, potentially leading to leakage, reduced flow control and premature component replacement. These problems can increase operating costs through additional maintenance, equipment downtime and more frequent intervention.
Material selection is therefore an important consideration for equipment manufacturers and operators. Conventional materials may struggle to maintain their performance under prolonged exposure to abrasive conditions, particularly where components are subject to repeated high-pressure operations.
Hardide’s focus is on protective surface coatings designed to improve resistance to wear, erosion and corrosion. Applying suitable coatings to vulnerable components can help extend service life and reduce the frequency of replacement.
Hardide plc (LON:HDD) is a pioneer in advanced tungsten/tungsten carbide CVD coatings. They showcase unmatched capabilities to greatly extend the life of complex geometry components facing extreme wear, erosion and corrosion.
