With the discovery of oil and gas in water depths greater than 1000ft (305 m) the material selection process has become more difficult and complicated when compared to the similar process for land based operations. The costs associated with a failure in deep water are expensive and have environmental implications. Deepwater projects consist of both direct vertical access (DVA) wells and subsea projects that are completed several miles away form the host platform and tied back to it via a flowline and riser. Historically, materials were needed to handle corrosive service consisting only of H2S, CO2 and chlorides. With deep-water wells and subsea systems that are being drilled and completed and subsea systems being installed, chemicals are required to minimize paraffin, asphaltene, hydrates, and scale formation and provide corrosion inhibition. These chemicals however, may have adverse effects on metallic and non-metallic materials. The problem is
compounded when materials have to be selected to handle produced fluids, annular fluids, and the injected chemicals. In subsea systems the effects of hydrogen embrittlement from the cathodic protection system also have to be taken into account. This paper will cover approaches taken for selecting materials for subsea production applications.