Approved FKM Sealing Material

XploR™ FKM elastomers are commonly found in oilfield applications such as Separation Equipment, Connector Systems, Subsea Valves, Wellhead Control Equipment, Tubing Hangers, Blowout Preventers (BOPs), Swivel Stacks on Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels and Downhole Tools.

All standard international O-Ring sizes and cross-sections along with custom-engineered solutions and specially designed seal profiles are available in XploR™ grade FKM elastomer materials. To discuss how NORSOK M-710 approved materials can enhance your design process, contact your local Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Marketing Company.

Fluoroelastomers (FKM) offer exceptional mechanical performance (high modulus / high strength), low long-term compression set and very good chemical compatibility – leading to extremely long service life in aggressive media, including hydrocarbon and aqueous media common in oilfield applications.

XploR™ FKM elastomers from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions are a popular choice for high pressure RGD affected service conditions, where media compatibility and operating temperatures require a NORSOK Approved FKM sealing material to be specified. Although no elastomer can be completely resistant to Rapid Gas Decompression, XploR™ FKMs demonstrate best-in-class RGD in line with limits set by NORSOK M710 Rev. 2.

• XploR™ V9T20 is a standard grade RGD compatible FKM elastomer commonly specified for subsea equipment and downhole tools
• XploR™ V9T22 is a specially developed FKM elastomer offering high and low EDR capability
• XploR™ V9T82 FKM has been developed to work in both high and ultra-low temperature RGD applications, offering unrivalled performance beyond standard FKM RGD resistant elastomers

The NORSOK Standard

NORSOK M-710 – Qualification of non-metallic sealing materials and manufacturers (Rev. 2, Oct. 2001) – requires that all sub-components of oilfield equipment must be approved to stated specifications. Individual seal materials are rigorously tested and approved based on numerous criteria, significantly including Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD).

Rapid Gas Decompression

Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD) is a major concern to oilfield OEMs and operators. It can occur when applied system pressure is quickly released, causing absorbed gas to expand and potentially damage elastomer seals – leading to system failure.

Inherently, elastomer seals contain voids. Gas or gas mixtures in contact with elastomer surfaces are absorbed and will saturate elastomer seals. At high-pressure this absorbed gas is in a compressed state. When external pressure is reduced, either rapidly or over a relatively short period of time, the compressed gas nucleates at the voids, expanding within the elastomer.

The voids inflate, leading to high tensile stresses or strains in the void walls. Depending on the strength and hardness of the elastomer, this can cause the elastomer to break or crack.