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Bernadette Craster

Back to Who We Are Alan Taylor Carol Johnson Colin Ribton Dr Channa Nageswaran Jonathan Martin Matthew Doré Bernadette Craster
 

Bernadette Craster is the Technology Fellow for Polymeric Materials and Ageing through Permeation Processes. Bernadette has been a Fellow of the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining since 2018.

She graduated in 1988 with a degree in Applied Physics and Chemistry, awarded by Trinity College, Dublin. Bernadette was seconded from Schlumberger Cambridge Research (SCR) to the University of Bristol to complete an MSc in Surface Chemistry and Colloids in 1992. She was awarded her PhD in 1997 while working as a Research Scientist at SCR with Professor Chris Breen, Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University as academic supervisor. The thesis topic was, ‘Studies of the modification of ion and water movement through clays and shales,’ and was concerned with methods to study diffusion processes through the alteration of pressure, temperature and the addition of polymers.  She continued as a Research Scientist to study diffusion and permeation and ageing processes in inorganic and organic polymeric materials and composites, while based in SCR and during six years of placement in France and Canada.  

Joining TWI Ltd in 2012 as a polymer materials specialist, Bernadette spearheaded the development of a unique experimental facility to support the understanding of the transport of environments developed in the presence of polymeric materials. During these tests, fluids and gas mixtures are presented to the material at realistic conditions of interest to our Members at all technology readiness levels. Data interpretation is being developed to connect permeation to material properties while saturated.

In 2018, Bernadette was promoted to Technology Fellow of Polymeric Materials and Ageing through Permeation Processes. She continues to work with an international client base on single client and joint industry projects and also mentors junior colleagues.

Open video

Meet the Expert - Bernadette Craster

Patents, Journals and Conferences

1. A Traidia, A Al Shahrani, A Parvez, B Craster, ‘Multilayer permeation barrier for spoolable composite pipes,’ WO2024238203A1, 2024

2. A Hammami, T Yakimoski, B Craster and J R A Pearson, ‘Logging system and methodology,’ USB439106B2, 2013 and CA2827060C, 2014

3. A  Hammami, S Jacobs, B Craster, T  Yakimoski, J R A Pearson, ‘Mitigation of localized stress In tubulars,’ US7757775, 20 Jul 2010

4. B  Craster, R  Card, A  Johnson, P  Way, H  Ladva, J  Phipps, G  Maitland, P Reid, ‘System and method for maintaining zonal isolation in a wellbore,’ US7669653, 2 March 2010

5. T Yakimoski, B Craster, S Jacobs, A Hammami, ‘Environmental mechanical test apparatus,’ US20090314107, 24 Dec 2009

6. Y Bai , T G J Jones, B Craster, A Hammami, T Yakimoski, ‘Compositions for reducing or preventing the degradation of articles used in a subterranean environment and methods of use thereof,’ US20090277625, 12 Nov 2009

7. A Hammami, T Yakimoski, B Craster, J RA Pearson, ‘Fiber reinforced polymer oilfield tubulars and method of constructing same,’ US20090236091, 24 Sep 2009

8. B Craster, A Hammami, T G J Jones, T Yakimoski, J Wang, SM Dershem, ‘Well tubular, coating system and method for oilfield applications,’ US20090200013, 13 Aug 2009

9. A Hammami, G H Meeten, B Craster, S Jacobs, J A Ayoub, P Lacour-Gayet, J Desroches, S G James, S  Bargach, G L Rytlewski, I Cooper,  ‘Methods and apparatus for completing a well,’ US7422060, 9 Sep 2008

10. P I Reid, B Craster, J P Crawshaw T G Balson, ‘Drilling Fluid,’ US6544933, 8 Apr 2003

11. P Reid and B Craster, ‘Polyol shale inhibition agents for water based drilling fluids,’ GB2297774, 7 Oct 1998 / GB2297775, 7 Oct 1998

  1. Timothy G J Jones and Bernadette Craster, ‘Fractional free volume of polymers above and below the glass transition temperature,’ Polymer (2025): 129124
  2. A Traidia, B Craster, A Hammami, B Flipo, C Raftery, J Runka, H Froment and A Parvez, ‘Radial and axial permeation of a sour gas mixture through and RTP section; a comparison between measurement and modelling,’ Polymer Engineering for Energy (AMI) Conference 2024 London (UK), 4-5 December 2024
  3. Raheem, Hamad, Bernadette Craster and Ashwin Seshia, ‘A comparison of calculation methods for the diffusion coefficient as a potential tool for identifying material alteration with time,’ Polymer Testing 132 (2024): 108356
  4. Traidia, Abderrazak, Bernadette Craster, Jerome Rondin and Abdallah Al Tamimi, ‘Reduction in the transport of sour gases and hydrocarbons to underlying PE-RT through thin films of PVDF,’ Journal of Membrane Science 694 (2024): 122416
  5. C Raftery, A Hammami, M Duncan, M Redmond and B Craster,’ Transport of sour gases through PE-RT and multilayers systems in the presence of hydrocarbons – new methodologies and data treatment,’ Polymer Engineering for Energy (AMI) Conference 2023 London (UK), 5-6 December 2023
  6. Raheem, Hamad, Ashwin Seshia, and Bernadette Craster, ‘Probing material properties via a pair of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducers,’ 2023 Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS), pp. 1-3. IEEE, 2023
  7. Raheem, Hamad, Ashwin Seshia, and Bernadette Craster, ‘Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducers as a materials characterization probe,’ 2023 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS), pp. 1-4. IEEE, 2023
  8. Raheem, Hamad, Bernadette Craster and Ashwin Seshia, ‘Analysis of permeation and diffusion coefficients to infer aging attributes in polymers subjected to supercritical CO2 and H2 gas at high pressures,’ Polymers 14, no. 18 (2022): 3741
  9. Raheem, Hamad, Ashwin Seshia and Bernadette Craster, ‘Resonant coupling of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducers with polymer specimens in different media,’ 2021 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS). IEEE, 2021
  10. B Craster, B King, M E Mitzithra, J Taylor, A Parvez, A Asiri and C Jones, ‘Exposure of various polymer-lined carbon steel pipe sections to a sour hydrocarbon fluid at a maximum service temperature: Methodology and observations,’ NACE International Corrosion Conference Proceedings (pp. 1-16). NACE International, July 2020
  11. J D Wadhawan, B Craster, N S Lawrence and S M Kelly, ‘Regular solution theory for polymer permeation transients: A toolkit for understanding experimental waveshapes,’ Langmuir 38(16), 2020
  12. B Craster and T G J Jones, ‘Permeation of a range of species through polymer layers under varying conditions of temperature and pressure: In situ measurement methods,’ Polymers 11(6), 2019
  13. B Craster and T G J Jones, ‘Polymer layers as barriers to the transport of species detrimental to carbon steel,’ The AMI International Conference on Oil and Gas Non-Metallics, London, December 2015
  14. T Raine, O Istrate, B King, B Craster, I Kinloch and P Budd, ‘Graphene/polyamide laminates for supercritical CO2 and H2S barrier applications: An approach towards permeation shut down,’ Advanced Materials Interfaces, accepted 19 March 2018
  15. S Paul, B Craster, C Tighe and S Mycock, ‘Materials testing in high-pressure CO2,’ 4th International Forum on the Transportation of CO2 by Pipeline, 2013
  16. B Craster, ‘Investigating the effects of supercritical carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide mixes on the morphology of polyphenylene sulfide and a fluoroelastomer,’ International Symposium on Polymer Analysis and Characterization, New Orleans, June 2013
  17. B Craster, A Hammami, J Wang and T Yakimoski, ‘Coating of bismaleimide based composites for oilfield use,’ Oilfield Engineering with Polymers Conference, London, 2010
  18. J S Phipps, H K J  Ladva, B Craster, J P Caritey and B Dargaud, ‘Design and evaluation of an elastomeric sealant for use in primary cementing,’ Society of Petroleum Engineers, 106207, 2007
  19. G Daccord, B Craster, H Ladva, T G J Jones and G Manescu, ‘Cement-formation interactions,’ Nelson E and Guillot D (eds.): Well Cementing--2nd Edition, Houston: Schlumberger, 202-219, 2006
  20. H K J Ladva, B Craster, T Jones, G Goldsmith and D Scott, ‘The cement-to-formation interface in zonal isolation SPE,’ Drilling and Completion, 20(3), 186-197, Sep 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers, 88016
  21. L Bailey, E Boek, M Carrier, B Craster, D Evans and A Jusufi, ‘A comparison of mechanisms of novel chemistries used to inhibit shale swelling,’ Molecular Modelling and Experimental Investigations, Chemistry in the Oil Industry VIII, 2003
  22. C S Deng, C Breen, J Yarwood, S Habesch, J Phipps, B Craster and G Maitland, ‘Ageing of oilfield cement at high humidity: A combined FEG-ESEM and Raman microscopic investigation,’ Journal Materials Chemistry, 12(10), 2002
  23. J Sherwood, B Craster, H Baigazin and L Bailey, ‘Osmotic transport through a clay membrane,’ Clay Behaviour: Chemo-Mechanical Coupling, 28-30 June 2002
  24. J D Sherwood and B Craster, ‘Transport of water and ions through a clay membrane,’ Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 230, 349-358, 2000
  25. P Barnes, S Colston, B Craster, C Hall, A Jupe, S Jacques, J Crockcroft, S Morgan, M Johnson, D O’Connor and M Bellotto, ‘Time and space-resolved dynamic studies on ceramic and cementitious materials,’ Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, 7, 167-177, 2000
  26. M Brady, J Getliff, P Reid and B Craster, ‘Highly inhibitive low salinity gycol water based drilling fluids for shale drilling in environmentally sensitive locations,’ Society of Petroleum Engineers 46618, 1998
  27. L Bailey, B Craster, C Sawdon, M Brady and S Cliffe, ‘New insight into the mechanisms of shale inhibition using water based silicate drilling fluids,’ Society of Petroleum Engineers 39401, 1998
  28. E Boek, P Coveney, B Craster and P Reid, ‘Mechanisms of shale inhibition by polyglycol water-based muds and the development of improved additives through combined use of experimental and molecular modeling techniques,’ Chemistry in the Oil Industry VI, 1997
  29. B Craster, ‘Control of shale swelling by glycol-based drilling fluids,’ Industrial Innovation from Colloid Science, Royal Society of Chemistry, Faraday Division, London, December 1997
  30. P Reid, B Dolan, B Craster and S Cliffe, ‘Shale inhibition by polyols in water-based drilling fluids: inhibition mechanisms and new molecules,’ Society of Petroleum Engineers 28960, 1994


Dr Bernadette Craster (FIMMM), TWI Technology Fellow (Polymeric Materials and Ageing through Permeation Processes), presents on the permeation of carbon dioxide or hydrogen into elastomers. Bernadette’s presentation showcases the state of the art in integrity assessment of elastomers for the energy transition.

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