Oil and gas producers operate in increasingly difficult and dangerous conditions. Exposure to extreme temperatures and pressures places incredibly high demands on mission-critical polymer seals.
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Oil and gas producers operate in increasingly difficult and dangerous conditions. Exposure to extreme temperatures and pressures places incredibly high demands on mission-critical polymer seals that keep personnel and heavy-duty equipment operating safely. When it comes to extreme performance O-rings capable of withstanding the demands of oil and gas applications, no material comes close to the chemical and thermal resistance of FFKM.
Oil & Gas IQ reports that an estimated 30 billion barrels of oil are consumed globally each year (primarily by developed nations) and, according to Reuters, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted global gas demand would grow at a rate of 1.6% a year until 2024. More than a third of that demand growth will come from China’s push to switch from coal to gas power generation and natural gas for residential use to improve air quality.
Given our ongoing reliance on oil and gas, it is perhaps unsurprising that the sector is considered to be the biggest in the world in terms of dollar value, generating billions of dollars’ worth of annual revenue and employing hundreds of thousands of workers. The stakes are incredibly high, which means that equipment – particularly in the downstream processing stage – must be infallible.
This is where FFKM oil and gas O-rings prove invaluable.
The primary attraction of perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) seals for the oil and gas sector is this polymer’s near-universal resistance to chemicals. This exceptional material will resist degradation by a practically exhaustive list of aggressive fluids and gases, including fuels, acids, alkalines, ketones, esters, alcohols, and hot water. As well as its chemical handling properties, FFKM is also incredibly thermally resistant – able to withstand temperature extremes of between -55°C and +330°C, depending on the grade of compound, to create high temperature O-rings.
FFKM combines the chemical inertness and thermal resistance of PTFE with the elasticity of fluoroelastomers (FKM) for O-rings that deliver extended service. Other elastomeric materials are likely to swell or degrade at the hands of the corrosive additives and extreme conditions common to oil and gas applications. FFKM O-rings are also less prone to “cold flow” out of position under severely pressurised conditions, maintaining a steadfast seal and preventing costly and potentially dangerous leaks.
As manufacturers of custom rubber seals, TRP Polymer Solutions is equipped with the experience, expertise and state-of-the-art technology needed to custom-manufacture advanced O-ring seals designed specifically for the rigours of the oil and gas industry. We employ cutting-edge process techniques and the most innovative FFKM polymers to develop industry-ready FFKM oil and gas seals for the unique requirements of oil and gas producers.
We supply FFKM O-ring materials for the oil and gas industry that are tested and certified to the Norsok M-710 specification. These Norsok FFKM O-rings are engineered to resist Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD) and sour gas to cope with the specific environmental demands that are commonplace in oil and gas applications.
For more information about our FFKM O-rings for the oil and gas industry, or to discuss your application requirements in more detail, please contact TRP Polymer Solutions today on +44(0)1432 268899 or email sales@trp.co.uk.
6 Jun 2019 • 
3 min read
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