15 Jan Custom Oil and Gas O-rings and Gaskets
I.B. Moore Manufacturing has spent decades helping energy companies address their most challenging sealing issues. We manufacture and distribute oil and gas O-rings that prevent catastrophic leaks in systems where temperatures fluctuate from below freezing to over 400°F, with high pressures reaching thousands of PSI. Drilling rigs, wellheads, and processing equipment all depend on seals that won’t quit under pressure — literally.
Oil and Gas O-rings Face Extreme Conditions
Energy operations put seals through punishment that would destroy standard components in hours. For instance, downhole equipment sits miles underground, where heat, pressure, and corrosive fluids constantly attack rubber. Surface equipment faces its own battles as production chemicals and temperature cycling wear away at sealing surfaces.
Explosive decompression creates one of the most challenging failure modes. When pressure drops suddenly, gases trapped inside the seal material expand faster than they can escape, which causes blisters and tears. This phenomenon occurs most often during rapid well shut-ins or when equipment depressurizes too quickly.
Backup Rings Stop High-Pressure Failures
Rubber alone can’t handle extreme pressure. As the force increases, the O-ring wants to squeeze through the gap between the metal parts — a failure known as extrusion. Backup rings made from harder materials block this escape route while letting the O-ring do its job.
PTFE backup rings resist chemicals and support the seal without creating friction problems. For pressures above 5,000 PSI, you might need metal backup rings. The configuration depends on whether pressure attacks from one direction or alternates as the system cycles.
Groove Dimensions Make or Break Oil and Gas O-ring Performance
The world’s best O-ring will leak if its groove is wrong. Too shallow, and the seal can’t compress enough to stop fluids. Too deep, and it rattles around without making solid contact. Our engineers calculate exact depths based on O-ring hardness, operating pressure, and temperature range.
Moving parts add to the complexity: Dynamic seals, where shafts rotate or pistons slide, need smoother surface finishes than static installations. Rough machining marks create leak paths and shred the seal material as parts move. Most dynamic applications need surface finishes smoother than 32 micro-inches.
Oil and Gas Gaskets Seal Flat Surfaces
Round seals can’t do everything. Flanged connections, valve bonnets, and equipment hatches need flat gaskets instead because O-rings don’t compress properly against these surfaces. Oil and gas gaskets face the same conditions, but use different sealing methods.
Spiral wound gaskets use alternating layers of metal and soft filler material. The metal provides structural strength, while the filler conforms to microscopic scratches and imperfections on the flange faces. This design handles thermal expansion effectively as piping systems heat up during production and then cool down during maintenance.
Sheet gaskets cut from reinforced materials work for unusual shapes where standard sizes don’t fit. They’re lifesavers for aging equipment, where original parts have disappeared from catalogs for decades. These custom gaskets can match any bolt pattern or irregular sealing surface you throw at them.
Custom Oil and Gas O-rings and Gaskets for Specialized Equipment
Off-the-shelf seals don’t fit every application. Directional drilling tools operate at unusual angles where standard designs leak; subsea equipment requires seals that withstand rapid temperature changes when cold seawater comes into contact with hot production fluids.
Metal carriers can position soft sealing elements exactly where needed in complex assemblies. Some designs use multiple sealing lips to create redundant barriers against leaks. Good to know: Before manufacturing hundreds of custom pieces, prototypes undergo testing that simulates years of service in just weeks.
Our Custom O-Ring Kits for Oil and Gas Industry Clients
I.B. Moore Manufacturing creates custom o-ring kits designed for different industries, including oil and gas industry companies. Each kit bundles all the necessary parts into one simple order. This includes O-rings, gaskets, backup rings, and seals from different manufacturers. Having everything in one package makes ordering easier and keeps your parts organized.
We also maintain a stock of pre-made kits, enabling us to ship them promptly. Many clients receive their kits the next day, which helps get equipment back up and running quickly. Whether you’re repairing wellhead equipment, servicing compressors, or handling emergency maintenance, our custom kits save time and minimize equipment downtime.
Partner With I.B. Moore Manufacturing for Oil and Gas O-rings and Gaskets
The right seal specification prevents costly failures before they happen. I.B. Moore Manufacturing applies extensive industry knowledge and field experience to match materials and designs with our clients’ actual operating conditions. We’ll help you build custom o-ring kits specific to your equipment, cutting maintenance time and reducing the risk of installation errors. Contact our Lexington, KY, team for nationwide service.