Oil & Gas
Oil & Gas applications demand materials and components capable of performing reliably in extreme pressures, temperatures, and corrosive environments
Fluorocarbon supports the industry with high-performance materials and precision-engineered components designed for subsea systems, offshore platforms, and onshore processing facilities. Our solutions are trusted in critical sealing, insulation, and structural applications where reliability is essential.
Key capabilities include:
- High-performance materials for harsh offshore and subsea environments
- NORSOK M-710 qualified non-metallic sealing materials
- Proven resistance to sour gas, high pressure, and rapid decompression conditions
- Precision-engineered sealing, insulation, and structural components
- On-site installation support, technical training, and engineering expertise
- Full traceability and support from prototype through to production
Oil & Gas Programmes Typical Requirements
Our high-performance materials are engineered to withstand the extreme pressures, temperatures, and corrosive conditions of the oil and gas industry.
In addition, our load-bearing, low-friction materials have earned a global reputation in the oil and gas industry, providing reliable sliding support solutions for bridges, oil platform linkspans, sea terminals, pipelines, and heavy industrial bearings operating in the harshest environments.
Oil & Gas Applications
Operating Environments & Engineering Challenges
Upstream operations involve extreme mechanical loads, high-pressure wellbore conditions, and continuous exposure to aggressive hydrocarbons and H₂S-rich environments. Components must maintain performance and integrity in both static and dynamic applications, often in remote offshore locations where reliability is critical.
Our Solutions Include:
- Fluoroglide® Skidway Systems → Controlled loadout of large offshore structures
- Fluoroglide® Flare Stack Bearings → Structural support for boom-mounted flare systems
- Offshore Bridge Bearings → Thermal expansion management in offshore platforms
- Valve Seats & Sealing Solutions → High-integrity sealing in wellhead and flow control systems
These engineered solutions ensure safe installation, controlled movement, and long-term operational reliability in critical upstream infrastructure.
Typical Challenges Include:
- H₂S sour gas exposure requiring NORSOK M-710 material compliance
- High mechanical loads during installation and operation
- Dynamic loading and fatigue in structural components
- Cryogenic conditions during LNG handling
- Wear and friction in moving assemblies
Recommended Materials:
- PTFE & filled PTFE grades → Low friction, chemical resistance, and wear performance
- PEEK → High strength and excellent wear resistance under load
- PCTFE → Dimensional stability and low permeability in sealing applications
- Engineering thermoplastics → Structural performance in demanding environments
Fluorocarbon manufactures precision components, including valve seats and sealing solutions, pump and compressor wear parts, and high-load-bearing elements.
Case Study: 37,000 Tonne Jacket Successful Loadout
Asia's largest jacket, weighing 37,000 tonnes, was required to be loaded out onto HYSY229.
The mammoth jacket stands 338 metres high and will support the Liuhua 11-1 platform, which will be linked to a circular floating production, storage and offloading vessel, also under construction by COOEC.
Operating Environments & Engineering Challenges
Midstream infrastructure must operate reliably over long distances under constant thermal cycling, mechanical stress, and subsea conditions. Components are expected to function without maintenance for decades, often in inaccessible environments.
Our Solutions Include:
- Fluoroglide® Subsea Bearing Sliding Pads → Low-friction movement at pipeline crossovers
- Fluoroglide® Subsea Sleeper Pads → Load distribution and pipeline support on the seabed
- Pipe Support Fluoroglide® Slide Bearings → Thermal expansion management in above-ground pipework
- High-Integrity Sealing Solutions → Isolation valves and pigging systems
These solutions are engineered to deliver predictable performance across thousands of kilometres of pipeline infrastructure.
Typical Challenges Include:
- Pipeline walking and lateral buckling from thermal expansion
- Stick-slip behaviour at pipe interfaces
- Seabed settlement and load distribution challenges
- Biofouling and long-term subsea exposure
- No maintenance access over extended service life
Recommended Materials:
- PTFE & filled PTFE → Ultra-low friction for sliding applications
- PEEK → High load capacity and wear resistance
- Engineering thermoplastics → Long-term durability in subsea conditions
Fluorocarbon supplies sealing systems, wear components, and bearing solutions designed for long-life, maintenance-free operation.
Case Study: 30 Years of Subsea Performance in the Harshest Conditions
An offshore project in Australia required bearing sleeper pads for Flowline End Terminals in contact with MLPP and 3LPP coated pipelines on the seabed, with a specified service life of 30 years. The challenge was not just material selection but proving that the chosen solution could handle friction wear against insulated pipe coatings, high lateral loads, and continuous exposure to marine growth and abrasive seabed conditions.
Fluorocarbon specified Fluorinoid® FL340 for its high abrasion resistance, inertness to marine growth, and low coefficient of friction and developed a custom low-profile fixing arrangement to accommodate high lateral loads whilst maintaining the required bearing dimensions. Friction and wear performance was validated using in-house testing data from purpose-built simulated subsea conditions, including sand abrasion testing, giving the customer the technical justification needed to proceed with confidence.
Operating Environments & Engineering Challenges
Downstream processing environments expose materials to aggressive chemicals, high temperatures, and continuous operational demands. Components must maintain dimensional stability and mechanical integrity under combined thermal and chemical stress.
Our Solutions Include:
- Fluoroglide® Slide Bearings for Pipe Supports → Controlled expansion in process pipework
- Valve Seats & Sealing Components → Reliable sealing in aggressive chemical systems
- Chemical-Resistant Machined Components → PTFE and PEEK parts for process equipment
- Pump & Compressor Wear Components → Rings, pads, and bushings for continuous operation
These solutions improve plant reliability, reduce maintenance, and extend service life in demanding refining and petrochemical applications.
Typical Challenges Include:
- Exposure to acids, caustics, and corrosive chemicals
- High-temperature thermal cycling (ambient to 250°C+)
- Creep and deformation under sustained load
- Wear in continuous processing systems
Recommended Materials:
- PTFE & filled PTFE grades → Chemical resistance and low friction
- PEEK → Strength and high-temperature capability
- PCTFE → High-performance sealing
- PVDF → Chemical resistance in processing environments
Fluorocarbon produces precision components for sealing, wear, and structural applications in process environments.
Surviving the Extremes: Polymers for High-Pressure, High-Temperature (HPHT) Environments
As global energy demands continue to rise, the oil and gas industry is being pushed into deeper, more hostile environments. From deepwater subsea fields to extreme reservoir conditions, traditional materials are reaching and exceeding their performance limits. High-performance polymers are stepping up to meet the challenge.
Improving Uptime and Reducing Maintenance in the Oil & Gas Industry with Advanced Materials
