Fluoropolymers are well known for their non-stick properties. They also possess outstanding chemical resistance even at high temperatures. Coatings made from fluoropolymers also possess these properties. The oil and gas industry has believed that fluoropolymer coatings do not work in production tubing because they do not adhere sufficiently. In this paper, we report on a series of new fluoropolymer coatings which have been designed to provide excellent adhesion, even under harsh conditions. A testing protocol has been developed to compare coating performance in high temperature, high pressure, in sweet, sour or hydrochloric acid environments. This protocol and results are reviewed.
It is shown that twenty four hour autoclave testing with rapid decompression can differentiate coating formulations. It is also shown that fluoropolymer based coatings offer promise for use in severe downhole environments. Additional long term or downhole testing is still required.