INDUSTRY
Oil & Gas
CUSTOMER
Manufacturer of well pump equipment
BACKGROUND
The manufacturer was developing a new transfer and booster pump for oil well liquids & gases and wanted to prevent the
media from escaping. This variable speed compressor will see oil, gas and water with sand and/or paraffin’s, plus it is
designed to handle both liquids and gases.
CHALLENGES FACED
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an extremely deadly gas commonly found in drilling applications, making it critical that the seals have zero leakage. In addition to poisonous gases, sand and grit can be very abrasive on seals and can quickly tear them apart; and many seals that are resistant to abrasives are made with aramid cloth which can actually wear and damage the plunger overtime. When pumping liquids, water and oil will act as a lubricant to reduce friction between the plunger and the seals. However, when the media is 100% gas there is no lubricant and the packing rings are essentially running dry on a moving plunger. Compounding the challenges of running dry, the pump has a >50” stroke length which creates enormous stress on the packing.
OPERATING CONDITIONS
- Size: 2.500 x 3.250”
- Temperature: 300˚F max.
- Application: Transfer pump
- Media: Oil, gas, sludge, water with abrasives, H2S
- Pressure: 400psi max.
- Speed: 1.2FPS
SOLUTION AND BENEFITS
To seal abrasive liquids and poisonous gasses at higher temperatures that occasionally run dry, Garlock recommended a combination of our premium DURATUFF® rubber v-rings along with a filled PTFE lantern ring to provide the best and longest lasting seal in this demanding application. The lantern ring allows for added lubrication to reduce friction associated with running dry. Garlock's fabric reinforced DURATUFF® rings were used to block out and seal against abrasives and strong chemicals, and their brass reinforced homogenous DURATUFF® provides a tight seal against gases and cleans the plunger to eliminate foreign material buildup. The previous seal would result in minor gas leakage overtime but with Garlock’s premium oil and gas sealing solution, they achieved zero leakage and a long product life that wasn’t damaging to the equipment.
The original article can be found on Garlock's website here.
For more information about well pump sealing solutions, contact Gallagher Fluid Seals today.