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Kalrez O-Rings and Seals
Oil and Gas Industries

Kalrez Has What It Takes In Harsh Field Environments

Kalrez seals stand up to severe down-hole conditions from high pressures and temperatures, to aggressive sour gas and corrosive fluids. Down-hole conditions can deteriorate elastomers rapidly. Blistering heat, corrosive fluids and toxic gases can destroy the physical properties and sealing performance of other materials. Even under extreme conditions of pressure, heat and manmade chemicals, Kalrez seals have held up and remained virtually unchanged. Kalrez has been field-proven across the industry in such applications as:

  • Tubing-to-packer seals
  • Subsurface safety valves
  • Logging boots
  • Casing tie-back seals
  • Survey tool seals
  • Slip-joint seals

Kalrez is offered in standard or specialty compounds that have been formulated to optimize properties and give the best performance in specific applications.

Technical Information:

Kalrez seals are a lot less expensive than the cost of downhole seal failure

With over 2,000 wells, the records show it: no well has ever had to be reworked because a Kalrez V-ring failed. Even under torturous conditions of pressure, heat, and man-made chemicals, Kalrez perfluoroelastomer seals have held up and remain virtually unchanged.

Six-Year Field Service Record
Conditions 
Depth, m (ft) 4,572 (15,000)
Temperature, °C (°F) 149°C (300°F)
Pressure, MPa (psi) 46 (6,700)
H2S, % 10
CO2, % 20
Production 
Oil, BBL/Day Oil, BBL/Day
Water, BBL/Day 125
Gas/Oil Ratio 1.3
Physical Property Comparison
(Kalrez 3065 Compound)
 
New V-Rings  
Tensile at Break, MPa (psi) 20 (3,010)
Elongation, % 27
Hardness, Shore A 95
Six Years Downhole V-Rings 
Tensile at Break, MPa (psi) 21 (3,120)
Elongation, % 30
Hardness, Shore A 85

When a seal failure in a 3048-m (10,000-ft) well can mean a $100,000 rework, why trust anything less than the proven performance of Kalrez perfluoroelastomer seals?

Kalrez Protects When Downhole Conditions Deteriorate

Downhole conditions can deteriorate rapidly. Blistering heat, corrosive fluids, and toxic gases can destroy the physical properties and sealing performance of other materials. Only Kalrez combines the resilience and sealing force of rubber with the chemical inertness and thermal stability associated with TFE and FEP. Kalrez seals resist attack by all well fluids and additives: hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, brine, sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, amine-based corrosion inhibitors, and solvents including benzene, toluene, acetone, high-aromatic hydrocarbons, and methanol.

Even under grueling long-term service, with temperatures to 260°C (500°F), Kalrez parts resist swelling, blistering, and embrittlement. To date, over 50,000 Kalrez V-rings have withstood severe downhole stresses without reported failure. That’s Kalrez reliability.

On your next completion, specify Kalrez---the seal that is good for the life of your well.

Downhole Conditions Change, but Kalrez Seals Don’t

Inside a well, the only constant thing is change. Because they have no active hydrogen, Kalrez parts successfully resist thermal and chemical fluctuations that cause lesser elastomers to fail. DuPont Kalrez is perfluorinated---completely protected by inert fluorine atoms. Nothing reacts with it.

Common fluoroelastomers have active hydrogen atoms. Under hostile conditions, hydrogen reacts with other elements, gradually degrading the seal. Kalrez perfluoroelastomer seals stand up to severe downhole conditions. No chemical or thermal degradation of sealing parts means no loss of sealing reliability.

Because environmental conditions change over the life of a well, specify the seal that doesn’t change---Kalrez.

The information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and is based on technical data that DuPont and Problem Solving Products, Inc. believe to be reliable. It is intended for use by persons having technical skill, at their own discretion and risk. Handling precaution information is given with the understanding that those using it will satisfy themselves that their particular conditions of use present no health or safety hazards. Since conditions of product use and disposal are outside of our control, we make no warranties, express or implied, and assume no liability in connection with any use of this information. As with any material, evaluation of any compound under end-use conditions prior to specification is essential. Nothing herein is to be taken as a license to operate or a recommendation to infringe on any patents. While the information presented here is accurate at the time of publication, specifications can change. Check with us before making a decision about which product to use.

DuPont™ and Kalrez® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. All rights reserved.