What came first, the petroleum or the petroleum-derived synthetic rubber O-ring used in its production? We pose this question in jest, of course, but it goes some way towards illustrating just how interdependent the oil and gas industry and polymer industries really are. Here, custom rubber moulding and O-ring specialist, TRP Polymer Solutions, explains why heavy-duty perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) O-rings are essential for oil and gas processing.
Oil and gas producers operate in increasingly hazardous and challenging conditions. Mission-critical polymer seals endure testing conditions on a daily basis, exposed as they are to severe temperature and pressure extremes. The safety of personnel and the efficient running of heavy-duty machinery can sometimes come down to the integrity of a simple O-ring. Given their importance, there can be no substitute for a properly engineered O-ring solution.
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 and polymers
In 2019, global demand for crude oil (including biofuels) crept over the 100 million barrels a day mark. With the global trend towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and single use plastics, demand is predicted to taper over the coming decades. However, industry analysts estimate that around 140 million barrels per day will still be needed by the year 2040. Around 67 million of those barrels are believed to be destined for developing countries.
Unsurprisingly, the oil and gas industry is considered to be the biggest in the world in terms of dollar value. It generates billions of dollars’ worth of revenue and employs hundreds and thousands of workers. Countless other industries also rely on the sector to produce their goods. Not least the polymer industry, which derives naphtha from the refinement of hydrocarbons and combines it with natural gas to produce the styrene and isoprene monomers required to develop synthetic rubbers.
The stakes are high for all concerned to make oil and gas production as safe, efficient and responsible as possible. That means that machinery, especially equipment deployed in the downstream processing stage, must be infallible. This is where those specialist O-rings really prove their worth. In this particularly demanding environment, no other polymer material comes close to matching the performance attributes of FFKM O-rings that have been developed with oil and gas applications firmly in mind.
FFKM rubber for oil and gas applications
Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) O-rings are an oil and gas producer’s dream, thanks to their near-universal resistance to chemicals and incredible thermal resistance. This exceptional synthetic rubber resists degradation by a virtually exhaustive list of aggressive fluids and gases, including fuels, acids, alkalines, ketones, esters, alcohols and hot water. FFKM can also withstand temperature extremes of between -55 °C and +330 °C, depending on the compound. Needless to say, FFKM is a material that thrives in demanding environments.
The great benefit of FFKM is that it combines the chemical and thermal resistance of PTFE with the elasticity of fluoroelastomers (FKM). Other elastomeric materials can swell and degrade when exposed to corrosive additives and extreme conditions. No such problems arise with FFKM O-rings, which are also less prone to “cold flow” (the tendency of any solid material to move or deform over a period of time under the influence of mechanical stress) under severely pressurised conditions, maintaining a steadfast seal and preventing costly and dangerous leaks.
FFKM O-ring experts
As manufacturers of specialised polymer seals, TRP Polymer Solutions has 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 O-rings for the unique requirements of oil and gas producers.
All of our FFKM O-ring materials for the oil and gas industry are tested and certified to Norsok M-710 specifications, which covers the requirements and procedures for polymer materials intended for demanding applications. They are also 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 [email protected].
