O-RING AND SEAL MATERIAL GUIDE FOR OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

O-Ring Materials for Oil and Gas Industry Harsh Environments from Experts

We are experienced with the demanding applications found in the oil and gas industry.
Selecting the best material or seal design can increase service life and predictability,
and reduce contamination, resulting in higher efficiency.

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Oil exploration and extraction

Oil exploration and extraction presents very challenging conditions for Elastomeric seals; a combination of extreme temperatures, aggressive chemicals and gases, abrasive media, high pressure and destructive forces, subject seals to the harshest environments in the world.

In addition, the techniques employed to exploit reserves are becoming more complex  with operations moving to more remote locations and deeper well depths, extending the operating demands on the seals even further.

Marco Rubber and Plastics offers a wide variety of products and materials to meet the need of our customers in the Oil field and gas, Marco Rubber understands the nature of high pressure high temperature environments associated with Oil and Gas exploration and transportation.

Marco has developed an extensive line of Markez Perfluoroelastomers dedicated to our Oilfield and Gas customers. Markez is similar to Kalrez® and Chemraz® at significant cost savings and custom O-ring sizes are supplied without additional tooling or setup charges.

Explosive Decompression

O-ring Failure Explosive Decompression Explosive Decompression (ED), also referred to as Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD), is a failure mechanism of elastomer seals that is due to the rapid decompression of gaseous media. When elastomer seals are exposed to high-pressure gas for a prolonged period the gas permeates into the seal material. When the external pressure is reduced, the gas which is dissolved within the seal material comes out of solution to form micro bubbles. As the gas expands, it may permeate out of the seal material. However, if the rate of decompression (and hence expansion) is high, gas which is trapped within the seal can cause fissuring and result in seal failure. Marco Rubber offers several materials to prevent this Phenomena and minimize its effects, please refer to the chart below.

Typical Product:

  • O-rings
  • X-rings
  • V-rings and Packings
  • Custom Gaskets
  • Back-up rings
  • PTFE seals and O-rings
  • SES spring energized seals
  • Cap Seals

Common Application Environments:

  • AED (Anti Explosive decompression) materials in FFKM (Markez®), FKM (like Viton ®), Aflas® and HNBR
  • H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide) Sour gas and Methanol resistant materials
  • Low temperature capability
  • Ultra high temperature materials
O-rings and Gaskets
Marco P/N Datasheet Base Material Hardness High Temp F° Low Temp  F° Steam <300 F° Steam <400  F° H2S (%)* Features
B1000 BUNA-N (NBR) 70 225 -40 4 4 <1 Lowest cost highest inventory general purpose
B1001 90 225 -40 4 4 <1 90 durometer NBR for higher pressure applications
B1083 70 275 -65 4 4 <1 Good for lower and higher temperature applications
R1001 HNBR 70 300 -40 2 4 <5 Black general purpose HNBR
R1008 90 350 -10 2 4 <5 90 durometer Explosive Decompression Resistant HNBR, tested to NorsokM-710.
L1000 Aflas® (TFE/P) 80 450 25 1 2 <30 General purpose Aflas®, steam, sours gas and acid resistant.
L1009 90 475 32 1 2 <30 90 Durometer Aflas for explosive Decompression applications tested to Norsok M-710.
V1000 FKM Viton® 75 437 -15 3 4 <1 Lowest cost highest inventory general purpose commodity A-type FKM  Viton
V1020 75 437 -6 2 3 <20 Viton® ETP type FKM offers  improved base, amines, ketones, MTBE, MEK, MIBK resistance
V1038 75 437 -40 2 3 <5 GLT Type FKM with lower temperatre resistance and improved chemical resistance
V1090 90 437 -40 2 4 <5 90 durometer GLT Type FKM Wide temperature range for explosive decompression applications, Norsok and Nace tested.
V1160 90 437 -50 1 3 <5 90 durometer XLT Ultra Low Temperature Type FKM. Excellent high pressure and explosive decompression resistance. Norsok and Nace tested.
V1186 75 437 -54 2 4 <5 Ultra Low temperature FKM with better chemical resistance than standard type A
Z1028 Markez® FFKM 75 575 5 1 1 <30 Best value general purpose performance compare to Kalrez® 6375 and Kalrez® 4079
Z1321 75 475 -45 1 3 <30 Improved low temperature resistance wide chemical resistance. Compare to Kalrez® 0040
Z1322 90 465 -50 1 3 <30 Lower temperature resistance, AED explosive decompression resistance, providing the best overall temp range and Chemical resistance. Compare to Kalrez® 0040
Z1317 90 500 5 1 2 <30 AED, tested to Norsok & Nace TM0297 standard, resistance to methanol, sour gas and steam, compare to Kalrez® 0090, Kalrez® 7090 and Kalrez® 3018
Z1412 90 590 5 1 1 <30 Higher temperature AED, resistance to Sour gas and associated chemicals and steam Compare to Kalrez® 7090, Kalrez® 3018 and Chemraz® 510
Z1400 75 635 -5 2 3 <30 Highest temperature FFKM with best long term compression set resistance up to 335ºC, short exposures up to 350ºC, Low outgassing, high purity with a wide range of chemical, acid, and solvent resistance. Compare to Kalrez® 7075, Kalrez® 4079 and Kalrez® 8900

The temperature ranges presented above are approximations for dry air service only and should not be used to determine design specifications or end-use temperature limits. Actual temperature range of a compound in an end-use application is highly dependent on part type, hardware configuration, applied forces, chemical media, pressure and thermal cycling effects, and other factors. The most practical way of determining an end-use temperature range is testing in the actual application conditions. Consult a Marco Engineer for more details.


Oilfield Chemical Resistance Comparison

Marco Material type V1090 FKM V1160 FKM L1009 FEPM R1008 HNBR B1000 NBR Z1028 FFKM Z1412 FFKM
Acid 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
Alkanes 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Amines 3 4 2 4 4 1 1
Base oil 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Biocides 3 3 2 2 2 1 1
Biodiesel 1 1 1 2 3 1 1
Bioethanol 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Chloride 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Brine Bromide 1 1 1 2 3 1 1
Formate 2 2 1 3 3 1 1
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 2 2 2 3 1 1 1
Cement 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Corrosion Inhibitors 2 3 1 1 3 1 1
De-emulsifier (mud) 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Defoamers 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Dielectric fluid 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Emulsifiers 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
Emulsion (oil and water) 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Foaming agents 1 2 1 1 2 1 1
Formation water Acid 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
Chloride 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Gravel packer fluid 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Oceanic HW 443 2 2 1 2 2 1 1
Oceanic HW 500 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
Hydraulic control fluid Oceanic HW 525 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
Oceanic HW 540 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
<1% 1 1 1 1 3 1 1
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) <10% 2 2 1 2 3 1 1
<30% 2 2 1 3 4 1 1
Lost circulation fluids 1 1 1 1 1 2 2
Lubricants 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Methane 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Methanol 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Marco Material type V1090 FKM V1160 FKM L1009 FEPM R1008 HNBR B1000 NBR Z1028 FFKM Z1412 FFKM
Mineral based oil 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Water 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Mud Oil 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Synthetic oil 2 3 2 2 3 1 1
Polyalkylene glycol 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Poly-a-olefin 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Poly-ol fire resistant ester 2 3 3 3 3 1 1
Sea water 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Slurries 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Synthetic biodegradeable ester 2 2 2 3 3 1 1
Thinners/dissolvers 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
Viscosifiers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Well cleaning fluids 2 2 1 1 2 1 1

The temperature ranges presented above are approximations for dry air service only and should not be used to determine design specifications or end-use temperature limits. Actual temperature range of a compound in an end-use application is highly dependent on part type, hardware configuration, applied forces, chemical media, pressure and thermal cycling effects, and other factors. The most practical way of determining an end-use temperature range is testing in the actual application conditions. Consult a Marco Engineer for more details.


Oilfield Chemical Resistance Comparison

Marco Material type V1090 FKM V1160 FKM L1009 FEPM R1008 HNBR B1000 NBR Z1028 FFKM Z1412 FFKM
Acid 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
Alkanes 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Amines 3 4 2 4 4 1 1
Base oil 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Biocides 3 3 2 2 2 1 1
Biodiesel 1 1 1 2 3 1 1
Bioethanol 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Chloride 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Brine Bromide 1 1 1 2 3 1 1
Formate 2 2 1 3 3 1 1
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 2 2 2 3 1 1 1
Cement 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Corrosion Inhibitors 2 3 1 1 3 1 1
De-emulsifier (mud) 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Defoamers 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Dielectric fluid 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Emulsifiers 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
Emulsion (oil and water) 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Foaming agents 1 2 1 1 2 1 1
Formation water Acid 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
Chloride 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Gravel packer fluid 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Oceanic HW 443 2 2 1 2 2 1 1
Oceanic HW 500 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
Hydraulic control fluid Oceanic HW 525 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
Oceanic HW 540 1 2 1 2 2 1 1
<1% 1 1 1 1 3 1 1
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) <10% 2 2 1 2 3 1 1
<30% 2 2 1 3 4 1 1
Lost circulation fluids 1 1 1 1 1 2 2
Lubricants 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Methane 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Methanol 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Marco Material type V1090 FKM V1160 FKM L1009 FEPM R1008 HNBR B1000 NBR Z1028 FFKM Z1412 FFKM
Mineral based oil 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Water 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Mud Oil 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Synthetic oil 2 3 2 2 3 1 1
Polyalkylene glycol 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Poly-a-olefin 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
Poly-ol fire resistant ester 2 3 3 3 3 1 1
Sea water 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Slurries 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Synthetic biodegradeable ester 2 2 2 3 3 1 1
Thinners/dissolvers 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
Viscosifiers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Well cleaning fluids 2 2 1 1 2 1 1

Ratings are as follows: 1] little or no effect, 2] possible loss of some physical properties, 3] noticeable change in physical properties an 4] not suitable for service

* H2S concentration.

The information given in this guide is believed to be reliable, but no representation, guarantees or warranties of any kind are made to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose, please consult our engineers engineering@marcorubber.com for any specific requirement.