Problems in application of non-metallic pipes in acidic environment

With intensive development of gasfields with high H₂S, non-metallic pipes for acidic gasfields have attracted more and more concerns. However, there are many problems in application of non-metallic pipes, such as absence of relevant codes and standards with regard to applicability evaluation and material selection, joints prone to fail, unreasonable rating of pressures in non-metallic pipes, uncertainties in gas seepage mechanism and patterns. In this paper, above problems are described and analyzed. Then, relevant suggestions are proposed for deployment of non-metallic pipes in acidic environments. For instance, techniques for fabrication of non-metallic pipes and joints with necessary sulfur-protection properties should be improved, necessary codes and standards should be stipulated for non-metallic pipes used in sour gasfields, assessments should be promoted for long-term services of non-metallic pipes in sour environment, and more researches should be made on on-site application and relevant matching technologies for sulfur-resistant non-metallic pipes.