Precision Machining for Oil & Gas Components
In oil and gas, a component that performs at factory acceptance test but fails in service is not a quality problem; it is an operational and safety event. Downtime on an offshore platform or a subsea system can cost hundreds of thousands per hour. The manufacturing process behind every component must account for material behaviour, operating environment, and long-term performance, not just dimensional conformance at inspection.
Fluorocarbon precision-machines fluoropolymers, engineering plastics, and metals for oil and gas applications, from single prototype components through to production supply. Our machining processes are developed around the specific behaviour of high-performance polymer materials under cutting, load, and thermal cycling, producing components that hold their geometry and sealing integrity in service, not just at goods-in.
Polymers behave differently from metals in ways that matter significantly for sealing and bearing performance in oil and gas applications.
The Challenge Of Machining Advanced Polymers For Oil & Gas
Machining Capabilities
| Capabilities | Details |
| Processes | CNC turning, CNC milling, multi-axis machining, drilling, reaming, threading, surface grinding, gasket cutting (CNC dual-head, up to 1500mm diameter), compression moulding, injection moulding |
| Materials Machined | All grades of PTFE, PCTFE, PEEK, PVDF, FEP, PFA, UHMWPE, PPS, PC, PET, and other engineering plastics, plus stainless steel, aluminium, and other metals for mixed-material assemblies. |
| Tolerances | Tight-tolerance machining across the full material range; thermal expansion allowances incorporated for components with critical in-service dimensional requirements across wide temperature ranges. |
| Part Complexity | Simple turned parts through to complex multi-feature components with internal geometries, cross-holes, and fine surface requirements |
| Volume Range | Single prototypes and first articles through to series production; batch sizes discussed at enquiry stage |
| Inspection | In-process and final inspection; CMM measurement available; full dimensional reports issued on request |
| Documentation | Certificate of conformance, material traceability, first article inspection reports, PPAP documentation – all available at request |
Materials & Components We Supply
Depending on your manufacturing setup, we supply either precision-machined finished components produced to your drawing or semifinished stock shapes - Rod & Tube, Sheet & Tape - in the material and grade you specify, ready for your own machining operations. Both routes are supported with full material certification and traceability documentation.
- Valve Seats & Sealing Components: Precision-machined PTFE, filled PTFE, PEEK, and PCTFE valve seats for wellhead, flow control, and process valve applications. Spring-energised seals, Lip seals, and Custom-profile sealing elements for dynamic and static applications. NORSOK M-710 qualified grades available for sour gas and HPHT service. Produced to drawing with full dimensional documentation.
- Pump & Compressor Wear Components: Piston rings, Rider rings, Wear rings, and Guide elements in virgin and filled PTFE grades for reciprocating pump and compressor applications. PEEK-HPV bearing grade components for high-load dynamic applications. Material and grade selected to match the specific PV value (the trade-off between contact pressure and sliding speed) for each application.
- Pipe Support Bearings & Slide Plates: Fluoroglide® Slide Bearings for pipeline thermal expansion management and Offshore structural interfaces. Bonded PTFE/metallic assemblies manufactured to project-specific dimensions and load requirements.
- Gaskets & Sealing Elements: PTFE Gaskets, Washers, and Cut Seals in virgin, expanded, and filled grades up to 1500mm diameter. Expanded PTFE for damaged or worn flange faces where increased compressibility is required. Filled grades – glass, carbon, graphite, 316L stainless steel, and metal-detectable grades – are available.
- Downhole & Subsea Components: Precision-machined components for downhole tools in PEEK, polyimide, PAI, and PTFE grades selected for combined HPHT, chemical, and mechanical demands. Fluoroglide® Subsea Bearing Sliding Pads & Fluoroglide® Subsea Bearing Sleeper Pads, Bearing elements, Insulators, and Structural components produced to tight tolerances with full material traceability.
- Skidway Systems & Loadout Assemblies: Fluoroglide® Skidway plate assemblies for jacket and deck loadout operations, designed and manufactured to project-specific load and bearing pressure requirements, with pre-project consultancy and on-site installation support included. Successfully supported structures up to 37,000 tonnes.
Fluorocarbon is the only skidway manufacturer capable of producing individual Skidway Plates up to 2 metres in length.This extended plate size directly reduces the number of individual plates required for a given skidway run, simplifying on-site installation, reducing the number of joints, and shortening installation time on projects where access conditions and programme schedules leave no room for unnecessary complexity. For large-scale loadout and infrastructure projects, fewer plates means fewer variables and a faster, more controlled installation process. |
- Custom Profiles & Prototypes: One-off prototypes, first articles, and development samples with the same dimensional documentation and material traceability as production components. Drawing review and DFM assessment are available before manufacture, and our engineering team can identify grade, tolerance, and geometry considerations before you commit to tooling.
Engineering Support
We work closely with oil & gas engineers throughout the design and manufacturing process, providing guidance on material selection and design for manufacturability. This collaborative approach helps optimise component performance while ensuring efficient and reliable production.
Our team also supports the development of new components particularly where materials or designs need to be updated to meet current requirements.
1. Drawing Review & DFM Assessment
Component drawings reviewed against material behaviour, machining feasibility, and tolerance achievability. Features that carry manufacturing or in-service risk flagged with a written assessment before quoting.
2. Material & Grade Confirmation
We confirm that the specified material and grade is appropriate for the operating environment. Where a change would improve performance or manufacturability without affecting qualification, raised formally with supporting data including NORSOK compliance implications where relevant.
3. First Article & Process Validation
Machined samples and first articles for customer testing and process validation before production release.
4. ECN & Design Change Support
Design change requests assessed within 48 hours with a written technical impact assessment covering dimensional, material, and process implications.
Quality, Inspection & Traceability
Precision machining at Fluorocarbon is supported by quality control processes aligned with the consistency and documentation requirements of oil and gas supply chains. Components are subject to in-process and final inspection to confirm dimensional conformance, with full material traceability maintained from raw stock through to finished part, including NORSOK qualification records where applicable.
Our controlled production environment and batch documentation processes give oil and gas customers confidence in the repeatability and compliance of every component supplied.
Read more about Oil & Gas Qualification, Certification & Traceability.