O-rings for Oil & Gas Industry

The Petrolium Industry, also known as the Oil and Gas Industry is one of the biggest industries in the world. This industry is responsible for the Exploration, Extraction, Refining and Transportation of Oil and Gas. Due to special environmental requirements that all sealing products around this industry must meet, they are one of the most complex applications in the oil and gas industry. Read everything from the O-rings for  Oil & Gas Industry below.

The materials used to produce mechanical O-rings for this Industry are of such quality that they can withstand higher temperatures. You can only really see how important a seal is when there is a leak seal. If a seal leaks, the whole process has to be stopped and this costs a lot of time and money. For this reason, the seals must be of good/high quality and must not be able to leak just like that. The most extreme and demanding conditions for rubber seals occur in this industry. In this industry the seals have to deal with thermo-chemical and liquid phase conditions where the seal has to keep its shape, this is also safety related.

What kind of requirements does a seal need?

Heavy mixtures of hydrocarbons are present in the drilling rigs, such as sulfonated, highly heated steam, H2S, CO2, methane, anti-corrosion agents, ethane, Temperatures well below 0°C and above 200°C and high pressure. The requirements are very strict such as: chemical resistance, excessive physical properties, resistance to explosive decompression (ED) and elasticity in a wide temperature range. On the picture below you can see what happen when you use a not approved seal for something where it was required.

What quality marks do we have?

We have a lot of products with all different quality marks and this is certainly necessary for safety and security. This gives confidence that you know that the product is good and approved. The quality marks we have in this area Norsok M710 and AED we have this quality marks discribed below.

What does Norsok M710 mean?

The Norsok M710 certificate shows that products have been tested for critical conditions such as: elastomer seals, but also for gas systems and permanent underwater use. This certificate also tests for handling sour gas, rapid gas decompression and explosive decompression. Norsok M710 is a safety standard developed for this industry. It covers a wide range of topics, including the design of offshore installations, the safe operation of equipment, and the management of health and safety risks. Norsok M710 is based on international standards such as ISO and API. It is updated on a regular basis to reflect the latest advances in safety technology. Norsok M710 is widely used in the oil and gas industry. It is recognized by regulators and insurance companies as a reliable source of safety information. That is what this certificate is good for. You can find O rings with this certificate here.

What does AED mean?

The abbreviation means written out in full, Anti-Explosive Decompression. The name actually says a lot, the approval indicates that the seals are intended against exploding in a machine such as a car engine. In a car, a small explosion always takes place in the cylinder while driving, this causes the cylinder to move up and down and this causes you to get out of your place. In most machines this does not work differently, certain explosions often take place here before the machine works. If you have seals that do not have this approval, they will leak in no time and tear or break completely. 

What does NACE TM0187 and TM0297 mean?

NACE TM0187 provides a test method that measures the ability of elastomeric materials to withstand static exposure to elevated pressure and vapor-phase sour gas environments (e.g., gaseous hydrocarbons with hydrogen sulfide) and is not designed to be an immersion or functional test. It is designed for testing O-rings or specimens of elastomeric vulcanites cut from standard sheets.

NACE TM0297 provides a standard test method sets forth procedures to measure the effect on elastomeric materials subjected to rapid depressurization from elevated pressures (higher than 7 MPa [1,000 psi]) and temperatures of 50 °C (122 °F) or greater in dry CO₂ environments, and is designed for testing O-rings or other test specimens of elastomeric vulcanizates. NACE TM0192 shall be used as a reference for testing at room temperature and lower pressures. This method is not applicable to the testing of cellular rubber or porous materials.

What does API-6A mean?

API Specification 6A is the recognized industry specification for wellhead and tree equipment that was formulated to provide for the availability of safer, dimensionally and functionally interchangeable wellhead and tree equipment. This specification includes detailed requirements for the manufacture of tubular suspension equipment, valves, and fittings used at the location of oil and gas wells to contain and control pressure and fluid flows.

What does Shell MESC SPE 85/301 mean?

The Shell MESC SPE 85/301 standard concerns explosive decompression (ED) resistance in very high temperatures, and subjects test samples to more challenging test conditions than other standard certifications, including ISO 23936-2 and NORSOK M-710. For example, NORSOK M-710 tests are carried out at 100°C, where as the equivalent tests under Shell MESC SPE 85/301 are conducted at 150°C. Under Shell TAT test conditions.

Where can I find O rings for the oil and gas industry?

We have a lot of different O-rings for this industry on our site here! 

More information:

Do you want more information about Norsok M710 or AED? Or you have another question? Get in touch with us! Our team of specialist is avalibe to you from monday till friday 8:30-17:00. Just use the contact form below, or take a look at our contact page.

Would you like to learn more about the different industries we supply with O-rings? Click here!