2. Presenter – Raul Escontrias, John Crane
Raul Escontrias is the North American Pipeline Account Manager for John Crane based
out of Houston, TX. He joined John Crane in 1997 and in his current role serves as a
technical resource specific to the pipeline industry. His primary duties are interfacing with
corporate engineering groups for pipeline operators to establish best practices for design
criteria, assist with on-site troubleshooting, formulation of recommendations on new
applications and to facilitate client training. He has held additional engineering roles
within John Crane, including Reliability and Regional Engineering positions in the United
States in the refining, specialty chemical processing and petrochemical markets. As a
graduate of Texas A&M University with a BS in Engineering, he has over 25 years of
technical field expertise.
Contact Information
Mobile: +1 832-257-4638
E-Mail: rkescontrias@johncrane.com
3. Introduction:
Acceptable pipeline sealing solutions must have:
• Extended reliability in all products
• Resist hang-up and wear
• Withstand contaminates and abrasives
• Operate 2 bar (30 psig) to 100 bar (1450 psig)
dynamic, 150 bar (2200 psig) static.
• Secondary containment ensures no leakage
4. Challenges with Pipeline Applications:
Multiphase batch
operations
Pumps in series
Seal chamber face
squareness to shaft
Mixed products High viscosity start-up
Low lubricating
products
High hydrostatic
pressure rating
Remote/unmanned
pumping stations
Leakage containment;
no flare or disposal
Pump equipment
shaft shuttling
VFD Operation
Pipeline Rouge &
Contaminate
5. Pressure Limits for Mechanical Seals
API 682 does not apply to pipeline seals (yet), it is useful to note
that it defines three pressure terms that relate to the mechanical
seal:
• Static
• Maximum Static Sealing Pressure (MSSP)
• Static Sealing Pressure Rating (SSPR)
• Dynamic
• Maximum Dynamic Sealing Pressure (MDSP)
• Dynamic Sealing Pressure Rating (DSPR)
• MAWP (Maximum Allowable Working Pressure)
API 682 defines the pressure casing as including the seal chamber but excluding the stationary and rotating
members of the mechanical seal. This means there is no requirement that the seal has the same maximum
allowable working pressure as the pump.
8. • Unreliable in dirty and solids duties -
Fretting
• O-ring travel in one year is ~150 miles with
shaft shuttling of 0.005”
• Non-pusher design eliminates dynamic O-ring
• Longer operational life and potentially lower cost
maintenance.
• Eliminates hang-up and wear
Material Considerations – Secondary Seals
• Evaluate material compatibility by process
• Pressures beyond 1440 PSIG, a increase durometer.
• Thermoplastics / energized polymer seals have been used in
extreme pressure cases.
• Non-pusher secondary seals have documented advantages in
many midstream applications.
9. • 316 Stainless Steel (UNS S31600)
–Nickel and Molybdenum (Mo) content improve corrosion
resistance
• Duplex Stainless Steel (UNS S31803)
–Increased tensile and yield strength. To 2160 PSIG (149
BARG), adaptive hardware benefits
• Large dia hardware components, > 4.33” (110 MM)
Material Considerations - Hardware
11. Sealing Strategies by Fluid – Crude Oil
• Varying API gravity and viscosities
• High concentration of contaminates
• Filtration and separators typically not effective
• Susceptible to hang-up and clogging
• Pump configuration may be susceptible to axial
shaft shuttling
12. • Typical operating parameters:
–Suction Pressure: 3.5 to 100 BAR (50 to 1500 PSIG)
–Max Discharge Pressure: 152 BAR (2200 PSIG)
–Speed Range: 600 to 3600 RPM
–Temperature: 10 to 38 °C (50 to 110 °F)
–Viscosity@ Pumping Temperature: 3 to 1,000 cP
–Specific Gravity: 0.73 to 0.93
–Shaft Diameter: 67 to 165 mm (2.625 to 6.500”)
–Mode of Operation: 2 to 6 pumps in series
Sealing Strategies by Fluid – Crude Oil
13. API Piping Plan 11 w/ 66A/B, 65A/B
API Piping Plan: Plan 11 w/ 75
API Piping Plan 53B or 54
Sealing Strategies by Fluid – Crude Oil
14. Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Refined Products
• Refined crude oil yields hydrocarbon products:
–Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, Jet Fuel
• Low vapor pressure fluids
• Lower viscosity vs crude oil, but higher when
compared to NGLs
• Pump configuration may be susceptible to axial
shaft shuttling
15. • Typical operating parameters:
–Suction Pressure: 3.5 to 80 BAR (50 to 1200 PSIG)
–Max Discharge Pressure: 125 BAR (1800 PSIG)
–Speed Range: 1800 to 3600 RPM
–Temperature: 10 to 38 °C (50 to 110 °F)
–Viscosity@ Pumping Temperature: 0.5 to 3.0 cP
–Specific Gravity: 0.70 to 0.86
–Shaft Diameter: 67 to 165 mm (2.625 to 6.500”)
–Mode of Operation: 2 to 3 pumps in series
Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Refined Products
16. • API piping plan 11 or 31 w/ 66A/B, 65A/B
• Some users have opted for 99(12) - filtration
• API Piping plan 11 or 31 w/ 75
• Option for 99(12) - filtration
Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Refined Products
17. • Raw Natural Gas Liquids or Y-Grade variations
–Separated from natural gas resources, fractionated into
base components.
• Definition of “flashing hydrocarbon” from API 682:
–3.1.36 liquid hydrocarbon or other fluid with absolute
vapor pressure greater than 0.1 MPa (1 bar) (14.7 psia)
at the pumping temperature, or a fluid that will readily
boil at ambient conditions.
Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Flashing HC’s
18. • Typical operating parameters:
–Suction Pressure: 6.9 to 80 BAR (100 to 1200 PSIG)
–Max Discharge Pressure: 152 BAR (2200 PSIG)
–Speed Range: 1800 to 3600 RPM
–Temperature: 15.7 to 44 °C (60 to 110 °F)
–Viscosity@ Pumping Temperature: 0.06 to 0.15 cP
–Specific Gravity: 0.42 to 0.58
–Shaft Diameter: 67 to 165 mm (2.625 to 6.500”)
–Mode of Operation: 2 to 4 pumps in series
Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Flashing HC’s
19. API Piping plan 11 or 99 (12) w/ 76
API Piping plan 11 or 99 (12) w/ 76
Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Flashing HC’s
20. Flow guide for improved cooling and flush distribution is
recommend for flashing HC applications
Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Flashing HC’s
21. • Include Ethane, Ethane-Propane mix, CO2
• Operate beyond critical pressure /
temperature
• Dense vapors
• Extremely limited lubricity properties
Sealing Strategy by Fluid – Supercritical
22. • Typical operating parameters:
–Suction Pressure: 41 to 97 BAR (600 to 1400 PSIG)
–Max Discharge Pressure: 152 BAR (2200 PSIG)
–Speed Range: 1800 to 3600 RPM
–Temperature: 10 to 33 °C (50 to 90 °F)
–Viscosity@ Pumping Temperature: 0.02 to 0.04 cP
–Specific Gravity: 0.30 – 0.40
–Shaft Diameter: 67 to 165 mm (2.625 to 6.500”)
–Mode of Operation: 2 to 3 pumps in parallel
Sealing Strategies by Fluid – Supercritical
23. API Piping plan 99 (12) w/ 76 API Piping plan 53B or 54
Sealing Strategies by Fluid – Supercritical
24. • Filtration systems have proven
to be effective
• Increased reliability
• Classified as API Plan 99 (12)
–Duplex for redundancy
–Magnetic separation
–Double block and bleeds
–Continuous Flow Transfer Valve
Mechanical Seal Filtration Systems
25. • Complete isolation of mechanical seals from process fluid
• Maximum process fluid containment
• Requires barrier fluid compatible with process
• Added complexity and cost to sealing system
High Pressure Lubricators – Piping Plan 54
