Types Of Gasket For Oil, Gas, Petrochemicals and Power Generation

October 10, 2018

A flange leak results in loss of product and energy, and sometimes with disastrous consequences. No plant operator wants a leak of toxic or hazardous material that can harm humans and the environment. Using the right types of gasket will help to achieve a reliable seal to prevent the leak from the flange joints.

Pipe gaskets are manufactured in many different materials. Choosing the right material is vital to suit the application and the environment where it will be used. You should refer to ASME B16.5 and consult a reputable gasket manufacturer. You will need to provide the gasket manufacturer with the following information

Flange Type/Size
Pressure
Operating Temperature
Media inside the pipe

Types of Gasket

Gasket Types by Material

Non-metallic
Metallic
Composite

Gasket Types By Configuration

Full Face
IBC (Inner Bolt Circle)
RTJ (Ring Type Joint)

Types of Gasket: Materials

Non-metallic
These can be made from CNAF (Compresses non-asbestos fibre), PTFE, Rubber, Teflon or Graphite. Non-metallic gaskets can compress easily with low tension bolting. They’re generally used for low pressure applications and low temperatures. One exception is graphite gaskets, which can be used for temperatures as high as 460 degrees centigrade.
Rubber and elastomer gaskets are not used for pipelines used to transport hydrocarbons

Metallic Gaskets
Metal is used for ring type joints in high-pressure applications, such as oil and gas supply production. RTJs are also used on valves and pipework, assemblies in refineries and other process industries. They seal by an initial line contact or a wedging action as the compressive forces are applied. Metal ring type gaskets are available with oval and octagonal cross sections. Octagonal include the BX type designed to seal pressure up to 20,000 psi, in accordance with API 6A pressure ratings.

Composite Gaskets
Composite gaskets are a combination of metal and non-metal material based on service requirement. Spiral wound, Metal Jacketed, and Kamprofile gasket are well known in composite gasket category. They’re used in a wide range of pressure and temperature services.

Composite gaskets are cost-effective as compared to metal gaskets, but careful handling is required. Composite gaskets are used on raised face, male-female, and tongue-and-groove flanges.

Types of Gasket: Configurations

Full Face: As the name suggests, these cover the entire flange face and include bolt holes. They can only be used with full face flanges.
IBC: (Inner Bolt Circle): Commonly used on raised face flanges. The RF flange iconcentrates more pressure on a smaller gasket area and thereby increases the pressure containment capability of the joint.
RTJ: Metal Ring type joint gaskets.

Choosing the correct gasket is just one of the factors to ensure joint integrity. There’s also bolt tension and tightening sequences and the flange finish. If the finish on the flange face is scratched, pitted or dented then the risk of leakage is very high. Even at the construction stage of new pipelines a flange surface can be dented or scratched. Fortunately, this can be fixed using a flange facing machine. These machines are available for the smallest of flanges up to huge diameters as much as 3 meters or more.

View Flange Facing Machines

Below is a selection of some commonly used gasket types in the oil & gas, petrochemicals and power generation industries