In the oil industry, which is divided into the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, seals are used in many applications around the world and have to withstand a wide variety of conditions.
Explosive decompression, sour gas, extreme temperatures or aggressive chemicals. From drill drives on oil platforms to underwater valves, from refineries to pipelines - seals in the oil and gas industry are used in a wide variety of applications. Whether drilling, pumping or refining, whether underwater or during finishing, whether static or rotating applications, the production process poses extreme challenges for the materials used.
One of the most feared challenges here is explosive decompression. This primarily affects seals that have to seal against gaseous media. When gas drops from a high pressure level to a low one within a short period of time, visible damage such as bubbles on the surface of the elastomer seal or cracks in the material occur. The solution is seals that can withstand explosive decompression.