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Introduction to Oilfield Metallurgy

Specialist metallurgical training for those working in the oil and gas sectors

The next virtual course will take place on Wednesday 7 May 2025.


We are delighted to be working with experienced trainer Clayton Thomas to offer this one-day short course introducing Oilfield Metallurgy.

Oilfield metallurgy is a specialist sector involved in understanding the requirements and performance of materials used in the challenging environments of the oil and gas sector.  This course provides an improved understanding of material specification and selection for the oilfield environment. The knowledge gained from the course will enhance discussions between customers and suppliers and gives a better understanding of the properties of materials and their influence on oil-tool component design.

This course is one of nine courses in the IOM3 Metallurgy in Practice suite.  If you attend this and two of the other courses in the series, you will receive an IOM3 Certificate in Metallurgy in Practice.  Book all three courses at once to receive a discounted rate.

Who is the course aimed at?

The course is aimed at personnel who work in engineering, production and design and who manufacture or supply engineering components. This includes buyers and salespersons. It will also be a useful introduction to the subject for new starters and graduate engineers.

How is the course structured?

It will cover:

  • Introduction to the oilfield environment:
    What are oil and gas?
    How do they affect materials?
    What are the special features of oilfield metallurgy?
    API Material classes
    NACE MR0175/ ISO 15156
  • Basic Metallurgy and Materials Science:
    Metallurgy and properties of low alloy steels
    Hardenability of oil tool materials
    Effect of alloying elements
    Heat treatment
    Weldability of oil tool materials
    Factors affecting material selection
  • Corrosion Resistant Alloys (CRA):
    Stainless steels
    Nickel alloys
    Material selection of CRA s
    API 6A CRA
  • Specifications:
    API 6A, API 17D, NACE standards etc.
    How to use them and what are their key features
    How do they affect material selection and fabrication?
  • Corrosion and Material Properties:
    Why is oil/gas corrosive?
    Sweet and Sour environments
    Typical corrosion problems
    Stress corrosion cracking
  • Sour Service
    NACE MR0175
    ISO 15156
    Material selection and sour service
    Effect on welding

By the end of the course what will I have learnt?

  • Understand the oilfield environment and its effects on material selection
  • Appreciate heat treatment and alloying requirements of oil tool components
  • Show how common oiltool standards affect material processing and fabrication
  • Gain a better understanding of material properties and their influence on oiltool design.

How much does the course cost?

The fee for this one day course is £570 +VAT at 20% where applicable.  IOM3 members and subscribers to our Business Partner Programme are entitled to a discount of 10% on the course fee. 

A special rate of £99 is availble to Student & Early Career members of IOM3.


 

Register to attend the next course

Virtual course using Zoom
9:30am to 4:30pm, Wednesday 7 May

 

 


 

Find out more and register to complete the IOM3 Certificate in Metallurgy in Practice

 

 


Your trainer - Dr Clayton Thomas MMet ARSM MICorr

Clayton studied metallurgy at Imperial College and gained a PhD from the University of Sheffield looking at offshore corrosion fatigue.  After working for British Steel Technical as a metallurgical investigator and then corrosion test laboratory manager, he joined Cameron (now called One Subsea) in 1990.  He eventually became senior metallurgist and worked on major topside and offshore projects for operators such as BP, Shell,  AGIP, Total, and Conoco. He also had responsibility for the material selection and corrosion prevention for topside and subsea projects and for the metallurgy and welding of equipment including wellheads, BOPs, flowlines, choke valves, risers, manifolds, Christmas trees and associated items.
Since 2000 Clayton has been director of Lloyd-Thomas Consultancy Ltd, providing metallurgical support and training. He has continued to work in oil and gas as well as other engineering sectors, such as power engineering, aerospace and biomedical, has carried out numerous failures investigations and has acted as an expert witness in litigation cases.
He has run over 250 metallurgy courses on various aspects of metallurgy and has been working with IOM3 since 2020.


​Find out more about the other courses in the Metallurgy in Practice Suite...

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Introduction to Mechanical Testing

An introduction to the principles of testing and its importance

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Introduction to Materials Selection

An introduction to the principles of materials selection for engineering applications.

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Introduction to Corrosion & Its Prevention

Focussing on the fundamentals of corrosion and how it can be prevented

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Fracture and Fatigue Failure Analysis

Training for those wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the factors affecting failure modes and an introduction to failure analysis.

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Engineering Metallurgy

A one-day course exploring the basic concepts of metallurgy


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