In shale oil and gas and deep oil and gas development, acid fracturing operations face multiple challenges such as acid corrosion, ultra-high pressure pulses, and extreme temperature ranges. The national standard GB/T 46167-2025 "Specification for Flexible Hoses and Hose Assemblies for Fracturing", which will be released in 2025 and implemented in March 2026, for the first time specifies the working environment temperature as -35 ℃ to+45 ℃, the working medium temperature as -35 ℃ to+100 ℃, and covers various media such as maximum concentration 30% hydrochloric acid, fracturing fluid, proppants, liquid carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. The corrosion-resistant and high-pressure acid fracturing hose with a working temperature range of -35 ℃ to+100 ℃ is an engineering response to this new national standard - using the chemical inertness of UPE lining to resist strong acid erosion, using multi-layer steel wire winding to carry ultra-high pressure pulses, and using a wide temperature range material system to ensure elasticity and sealing integrity under extreme working conditions, it has become a reliable channel for "acid resistance, pressure resistance, cold and heat resistance" in shale gas fracturing operations.
1、 The engineering significance of the temperature range of -35 ℃ to+100 ℃: covering the entire scene from extreme cold to geothermal
The construction environment for shale gas fracturing operations spans a wide range - winter temperatures in shale gas fields in northwest China and North America often drop below -35 ℃, while the temperature of fracturing fluid can rise to over 100 ℃ when it returns to the surface in deep wellbores. This temperature range has been clearly defined for the first time in the new national standard.
-The test of hose materials is particularly severe in the low temperature range of 35 ℃. Standard nitrile rubber is prone to enter a glassy state at this temperature, hardening and becoming brittle, and may crack even with slight bending. The glass transition temperature of UPE lining is below -100 ℃, and it still maintains the ability of molecular chain segment movement at -35 ℃, without cracking of the lining due to low-temperature brittleness. The introduction of low-temperature plasticizer system further enhances the flexibility of the inner adhesive layer in extremely cold environments, ensuring that the hose can withstand initial pressure impact without failure during cold start of winter equipment.
+The high temperature range of 100 ℃ tests the material's ability to resist thermal aging. UPE maintains chemical inertness under continuous operating conditions at 100 ℃ and does not accelerate acid corrosion due to high temperatures; The outer rubber layer is made of heat-resistant EPDM or chloroprene rubber formula, which does not undergo cracking caused by thermal oxidative aging at a fracturing fluid reflux temperature of 100 ℃. This temperature range adaptation of "low temperature non brittleness, high temperature non aging" allows the same hose to be used interchangeably in cross regional operations in the cold winter of northwest China and the hot summer of the Middle East.
2、 Dual protection against corrosion and high pressure: synergy between UPE lining and multi-layer steel wire
The UPE lining is the core barrier of the hose that can withstand 28% -30% hydrochloric acid and various fracturing media. Using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) imported from Germany/Japan as the inner layer material, the saturated molecular chain structure of UPE makes it naturally inert to chemical media such as hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and fracturing fluids. The latest patented technology further sets an anti-seepage layer (PTFE or UPE material) outside the inner lining layer. Even if the inner lining layer is removed at the joint, the anti-seepage layer can still prevent strong acidic media from seeping out, avoid corrosion of the reinforcing layer steel wire, and enable the hose to serve for a long time.
The reinforcement layer adopts a multi-layer high-strength steel wire or steel wire rope alternating spiral winding structure. The API 7K standard requires a blasting safety factor of 4:1- the working pressure of 15000psi (approximately 103.5MPa) corresponds to a blasting pressure of 40000psi (approximately 276MPa), and the verification pressure is 22500psi. Some products have a working pressure of up to 20000 psi (about 138 MPa) and a burst pressure of 40000 psi (about 276 MPa). The hose complies with API Spec. 7K FSL0 standard and has obtained ABS classification society certification. It can withstand continuous wear for 8000 hours in sand fracturing fluid containing quartz sand (20-40 mesh).
3、 New national standard adaptation and full flow operation efficiency
The release of GB/T 46167-2025 standard provides a unified standard basis for the design, inspection, and selection of acidizing fracturing hoses. This standard specifies that the inner diameter of the hose is 38mm to 180mm, and the maximum working pressure is divided into two levels: 103.5MPa and 138.0MPa. The conveying medium includes acid fracturing fluid, proppants, 30% hydrochloric acid, liquid carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc., enabling the same hose to meet the medium switching requirements of different fracturing processes.
The full flow design is the structural guarantee for improving operational efficiency of this series of hoses. The hose adopts an equal diameter full flow structure, with smooth inner walls and no steps. The flow resistance is minimal when fracturing fluid and proppant pass through, reducing turbulence and pumping energy consumption, and avoiding the risk of proppant accumulation and blockage at the joint. Compared with traditional steel pipes, the full flow design combined with the quick connection method of the integral union or flange joint increases installation efficiency by more than 2 times, saves 70% of costs, and significantly shortens the single well fracturing operation cycle.
Summary
The corrosion-resistant and high-pressure acid fracturing hose with a working temperature range of -35 ℃ to+100 ℃ perfectly meets the systematic requirements of shale gas fracturing operations for "extreme cold resistance, high temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance" with its three core technologies of temperature range adaptation according to the new national standard GB/T 46167-2025, acid resistant barrier with UPE lining and anti-seepage layer, and ultra-high pressure bearing with multi-layer steel wire alternating winding. From Tarim Oilfield to North American shale gas fields, from the cold wind of -35 ℃ to the hot liquid reflux of 100 ℃, every stable service under extreme temperature ranges points to the same goal: to provide reliable flexible channels that can withstand temperature tests and medium erosion for acid fracturing operations in reservoir transformation thousands of meters underground.
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