Trelleborg Introduces ‘Convention-Defying’ Material for Extreme Temperature Applications in Oil & Gas

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, the world leader in engineering polymer solutions, introduces two new advanced elastomers engineered to withstand extremely low temperatures while meeting rigorous international standards for elastomeric material in oil & gas production. The “convention defying” materials, known as Isolast® XploR™ J9523 perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) and XploR™ V9T82 fluoroelastomer (FKM), are engineered to maintain excellent sealing function at very low temperatures while subjected to high pressure conditions. The materials – which combine these characteristics with excellent chemical compatibility – have now met the ISO 23936 standard as well as revision three of NORSOK M-710. Extreme low temperature sealing performance Oil operators contending with extreme low temperatures, such as in the North Sea or around Canada and Alaska, will now have the opportunity to reduce operator costs without the need to use higher cost solutions and pre-heated equipment. Low temperature sealing is becoming more common in oil and gas applications but standard Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR) and FKM materials offer limited sealing capability below freezing when operated at high pressures. When an elastomer reaches its glass transition temperature (Tg) point, its properties change from being elastic and pliable to becoming solid and brittle. As a result, the elastomer is ineffective as a sealing solution and can be damaged easily. RGD and sour service resistance Isolast® XploR™ J9523 operating temperatures range from -40 °C to +240 °C / -40 °F to +464 °F with short excursions to 250 °C / +482 °F, while XploR™ V9T82 operates from -48°C to +200°C/-54°F to +392°F with short excursions to 210°C/+410°F. These low Tg values allow the materials to remain elastic under pressure at much lower temperatures than standard grades. Andrew Longdon, UK Technical Manager at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, said “Isolast® XploR™ J9523 and XploR™ V9T82 are both designed to stand up to rapid gas decompression (RGD), are suitable for sour service conditions and have an outstanding extreme low temperature performance.” Pushing the barriers of science “The ability of the materials to successfully function below -4 °F / -20 °C while under 15,000 psi / 100MPa is convention-defying and a further demonstration of Trelleborg’s constant determination to push the barriers of science and continue to provide more advanced and sophisticated sealing solutions.” In addition to wellhead applications that may be subject to high operating pressures at low temperatures, Isolast® XploR™ J9523 and XploR™ V9T82 may also be ideal for drilling and intervention equipment that is stored in subzero conditions before being deployed into high pressure scenarios.