1. Spiral Wound Gaskets (SWG)

Description: Spiral wound gaskets are composed of a mix of metallic and non-metallic materials. They have a spiral-wound construction, typically consisting of a metal strip such as stainless steel and a filler material such as graphite, PTFE, and flexible graphite with metal wire reinforcement.

Advantages: They offer excellent resilience and can maintain a seal under varying pressures and temperatures. Their ability to withstand thermal cycling makes them highly reliable in dynamic environments.

Applications: Due to their resilience and ability to handle high pressure and temperature, SWG gaskets are popular choices for a wide range of oil and gas applications, including flanges, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels. The specific filler material determines their suitability for various fluids and chemicals.

2. Ring Type Joint (RTJ) Gaskets

Description: RTJ gaskets are precision-engineered metal gaskets that fit into machined grooves on flanged connections. They are typically made from high-strength materials such as stainless steel, carbon steel, soft iron, or other alloys.

Advantages: These gaskets provide a very tight, reliable seal and are highly resistant to blowouts, making them suitable for critical service applications.

Applications: RTJ gaskets are widely used in high-pressure applications like pipelines, pressure vessels, and wellheads. Their design provides excellent sealing under extreme pressure and temperature conditions, particularly in upstream oil and gas operations, including wellheads and Christmas trees.

3. Kammprofile Gaskets

Description: These are metallic gaskets with a serrated or grooved profile on one or both sealing surfaces. The serrations create a labyrinthine sealing path, enhancing the gasket’s ability to withstand high pressure. The core material can be metal or a combination of metal and a softer filler material.

Advantages: Kammprofile gaskets offer excellent sealing capabilities and are highly resistant to thermal cycling. They can also be reused after re-layering the soft sealing material.

Applications: These gaskets are used in applications where high performance is needed, such as in pipelines, refineries, petrochemical plants, heat exchangers, boilers, and pressure vessels.

4. Corrugated Metal Gaskets

Description: These gaskets consist of a corrugated metal core, often covered with a soft facing material such as graphite, PTFE, or mica.

Advantages: They provide a good balance between sealing performance and material cost, and their corrugated design enhances flexibility and compressibility.

Applications: Corrugated metal gaskets are used in applications with moderate pressure and temperature, such as flanges in process piping and equipment.
 

5. Insulating Gaskets

Description: Insulating gaskets are designed to prevent electrical conductivity across a flange joint, helping to prevent corrosion.

Advantages: They protect against galvanic corrosion by electrically isolating different sections of the pipeline. This extends the lifespan of equipment and reduces maintenance costs.

Applications: These are used in pipeline systems where cathodic protection is employed, such as in offshore platforms and underground pipelines.

6. Composite Gaskets

Description: Composite gaskets combine various materials to enhance their properties, such as a combination of metal and soft sealing materials.

Advantages: They offer superior conformability to uneven surfaces, excellent resistance to pressure and temperature extremes, and compatibility with various fluids, allowing for a tailored approach to specific sealing challenges.

Applications: They are used in a range of oil and gas applications, including pipe flanges, valve bonnets, and compressor housings.

7. O-Rings

Description: Although not always considered gaskets, O-rings are circular seals made from elastomeric materials. They are used in static and dynamic sealing applications.

Advantages: They provide an effective seal in a compact form and are available in materials that can withstand a wide range of temperatures and chemicals.

Applications: In the oil and gas industry, O-rings are used in valves, pumps, and hydraulic systems.