/ Hammer Union Seals
Drilling Grade HNBR Weco® Compatible Seals for Sour Crude Oil
Service companies running mixed fleets for Cementing and Acidizing face a dilemma: Standard NBR cannot handle the heat of curing cement, and Viton® (FKM) cannot handle the high pH of cement slurries or the abrasion of proppants.
Technical Specifications
- Working Pressure Ratings: 1,000 PSI to 22,500 PSI (depending on union rating)
- Durometer: 80-95 Shore A
Applications
- Hydraulic Fracking: High-pressure sand and proppant injection lines.
- Flowback Operations: Managing post-frac fluids and gases.
- Choke & Kill Manifolds: Safety-critical well control connections.
- Mud Lines: Circulating drilling mud systems.
- Acidizing & Cementing: Handling abrasive cement slurries and acid fluids.
Drilling Grade HNBR Weco® Compatible Seals for Sour Crude Oil
1. Executive Summary: Optimized for OBM and Sour Crude
Drilling operations present a unique set of challenges: Oil-Based Muds (OBM), chemically aggressive sour crude from the formation, and the abrasive wear of drill cuttings. Standard HNBR can sometimes swell excessively in high-aromatic diesel muds.
Our Drilling Grade HNBR Seals are precision-formulated with a High-Acrylonitrile (ACN) content. This specific chemistry minimizes volume swell in hydrocarbons while maintaining the toughness required to survive the solids control circulation loop. Compatible with all Weco® style unions, these seals are the premium choice for the mud system.
2. Material Science: The ACN Balance
Controlling Volume Swell
“Swell” happens when the elastomer absorbs the fluid it is sealing.
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Low ACN HNBR: Better low-temp flexibility, but swells 10-20% in Diesel/OBM.
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Our Drilling Grade (High ACN): We utilize an ACN content >43%. This tightens the molecular structure against hydrocarbon ingress, keeping Volume Swell < 5%.
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Why it matters: A swollen seal will extrude and shear off when the union is disconnected, requiring replacement every time. Our Low-Swell HNBR can often be reused, saving money.
3. Comprehensive Data Sheet
| Technical Parameter | Specification |
| Grade | Drilling Grade HNBR |
| Primary Fluid | Oil-Based Mud (OBM), Sour Crude |
| ACN Content | High (>43%) |
| Hardness | 95 Shore A (Extra Hard) |
| Pressure Rating | Up to 15,000 PSI |
| Temperature | -20°F to +300°F |
| Sizes Available | 2″, 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″ |
| Compatibility | Fits Weco®, Kemper®, FMC® Unions |
4. Field Applications in Drilling
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Standpipe Manifolds: High-pressure mud delivery.
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Shale Shakers: Seals exposed to high vibration and solids.
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Mud Gas Separators: Equipment handling “gas kicks” containing H2S.
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Choke Manifolds: Flow control during well kicks.
5. Compatibility Statement
These seals are engineered as Aftermarket Replacements that meet or exceed OEM specifications. They provide a cost-effective solution for rig managers looking to reduce daily operating costs (OpEx) without sacrificing safety or performance in sour drilling environments.