RTP Company introduces anti-extrusion ring compounds effective in extreme conditions

RTP Company, the Minnesota-based global compounder of custom engineered thermoplastics, has designed and introduced thermoplastic compounds specifically for oil and gas service backup rings that perform well in both conventional and extreme high pressure and/or temperature conditions.

Sealing systems that incorporate backup rings are a significant contributor to the longevity of downhole oil and gas equipment, especially within high temperature and high pressure environments. Developing cost-effective components to meet sealing system requirements is an ongoing industry challenge. RTP Company meets this challenge by offering a range of product solutions.

Ultra Performance (UP) Structural Compounds allow backup rings to perform beyond conventional high-pressure, high-temperature downhole conditions. For performance at a better value, RTP Company also offers cost-optimized RTP 2200 series PEEK compounds and RTP 1300 PPS compounds with mechanical properties suitable for conventional well conditions. RTP Company also offers compounds formulated to reduce “spring” associated with backup rings machined from injection molded stock shapes.

When selecting materials for backup rings, it is important to take shear strength into consideration. High shear strength in backup ring compounds is desired because it is an indicator of better overall performance and longer service life. As shown in the image, a shear strength performance greater than 10,000 psi (pounds per square inch) is an important performance threshold.

Controlled Geometry Pellet (CGP) products from RTP Company provide yet another option for oil and gas customers who use compression molded shapes to produce backup rings. Compression molded stock shapes manufactured from CGP have improved mechanical properties compared to shapes molded from dry blended compounds, which increases backup ring pressure and temperature performance.

“Oil service companies benefit from our ability to provide multiple material solutions for injection and compression molding and from our R&D group, who have more than 30 years of industry experience,” Duncan Hogg, Global Energy Market Manager. “This allows customers to design backup rings from materials that meet the end-use requirements that ultimately provide longer life and greater reliability.”