Laboratory tests have identified several different types of elastomeric materials found to be superior to the current Viton elastomeric compound being used as the flapper seal of a Wireline Retrievable Subsea Safety Valves in the southern North Sea. The Viton flapper seals used in these wells had to be replaced each time the valve was removed for wireline service work because of explosive decompression damage to the seal. Examples of several typical oilfield elastomers were identified as suitable replacements for this field environment and these procedures. Under the conditions of this gas mixture, the elastomer type with the most consistent performance in explosive decompression and methanol swell resistance in these lab tests was Aflas. Full scale seal testing of one of the Aflas compounds is currently in progress.

Subject
External surfaces, Chemical compounds, Materials, Valves, Autoclaves, Gas pressure, Explosives, Mixtures, Internal surfaces, Elastomers, Methanol, Blistering, Damage
© 1991 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1991
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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