Section

15
Guidelines for Selecting
Packer Elements and Seals
The table below lists the information that appears in Section 15.

Description Page No.

Introduction 1
Chemical Compatibility 2
Table 15.1—Chemical compatibility of Rubber Types 3
Table 15.1 Notes 4
O-ring Selections 5
Table 15.2—Temperature and Pressure Specifications for O-rings 5
15K Packer Elements 6
Table 15.3—Chemical Compatibility of 15K Packer Elements 6
Table 15.3 Note 6
Quality Checks 7
Visual Inspection 7
Durometer Check 7
Traceability 7
Storage 7

Introduction
This section provides information for selecting packer elements and other rubber components and
performing quality checks on them. This information is based on laboratory testing and years of experience.
It applies only to Halliburton service tools and well service operations, including remedial cementing, drill-
stem testing, and stimulation operations. Because these operations are relatively brief, downhole operators
may be able to use rubber that could not be used in other long-term downhole operations.

September 17, 2001 Page 1 of 7 Section 15—Guidelines for Selecting

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Chemical Compatibility
Guidelines for assessing chemical compatibility and selecting rubber types are provided in three tables:

• Table 15.1—Chemical compatibility of typical rubber types (Page 3)

• Table 15.2—Specifications for o-rings (Page 5)
• Table 15.3—Chemical compatibility of 15K packer elements (Page 6)

Note—This information applies to Halliburton service tools only.

For a more detailed explanation of the table notes, see “Table 1 Notes” on (Page 4).

Section 15—Guidelines for Selecting Page 2 of 7 September 17, 2001

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Table 15.1— Chemical Compatibility of Rubber Types

Sulfur-Cured Nitrile Peroxide- Fluorocarbon (FKM, AFLAS (TFE/

Chemical Packer Elements and Cured Nitrile Viton, P)
Environment Molded Seals O-Rings Fluorel) O-Rings O-Rings

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) D3 E A A

Methane (CH4) B4 B4 B4 A4

Hydrocarbons (crude) A A A A

Salt water A A A A

Steam E E E B

Carbon dioxide (CO2) B4 B4 A4 B4

Nitrogen (N2) B4 B4 A4 B4

Weak acid (HCl<15%) B B A A

Strong acid (HCl>15%) C2 C2 A A

Amine inhibitors C2 C2 E A

Alcohols A A E B

Diesel B B A B

Acidic completion fluids (bro-

mide-zinc, calcium, magne- C1 , D1 E B A
sium)

Aromatic hydrocarbons D2 D2 B D2

Oil-based drilling mud A A A A

Ester-based drilling mud B B B B

Solvents (xylene, toluene) D2 D2 B D2

Key:
A–Excellent - Recommended
B–Good - Slightly affected, but no significant chemical change
C–Conditional - Time and/or temperature limitations
D–Conditional - Operation considerations for running
E–Not recommended

1 Could lose elasticity.

2 Physical degradation could occur.
3 If the well has been properly killed, potential incompatibilities may not exist.
4 Explosive decompression could damage seals or elements.

For a more detailed explanation of the table notes, see “Table 15.1 Notes” (Page 4).

September 17, 2001 Page 3 of 7 Section 15—Guidelines for Selecting

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Table 15.1 Notes

1. Some chemicals and environments cause certain rubber types to lose elasticity, which can affect
setting or resetting packer elements. Usually, no other physical degradation of the rubber is apparent.
Service tools can be run in these environments if the packer or bridge plug is set within 8 hours of
starting in the hole. The packer or plug cannot be reset after initial operations have begun.
2. Some chemicals can cause physical degradation of certain rubber types. To keep these chemicals from
prolonged contact with the rubber, pump them into the workstring and the wellbore. Do not allow them
in the drilling or completion fluids. If fluids are spotted, do not spot these chemicals across the packer
seat (overdisplacement). Run a pup joint below a retrievable packer to provide a fluid barrier for
packer elements. Place sand above a retrievable bridge plug to provide a physical barrier to pumped
chemicals.
3. Incompatibilities that previously existed with chemicals that are produced from an oil or gas well may
not exist in certain service operations if the well has been properly killed, and those chemicals do not
exist in the wellbore. Further, pumping operations will keep produced chemicals from entering the
wellbore during the service operation.
4. Chemical incompatibilities may not be severe enough to cause concern, but explosive decompression
can damage seals or packer elements. Explosive decompression occurs when a sudden pressure loss
occurs after prolonged exposure to this chemical.

Section 15—Guidelines for Selecting Page 4 of 7 September 17, 2001

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O-ring Selections
Table 15.2 provides pressure and temperature guidelines for selecting the proper O-rings for Halliburton
service tools. These guidelines are for Halliburton service tools only.

Table 15.2—Temperature and Pressure Specifications for O-rings

Peroxide-CuredNitrile Fluorcarbon Aflas

(NBR) (FKM, Viton, Fluorel) (TFE/P)
Series 70 Series 6001 Series 601.32

Min. Temp. °F (°C) -40 (-40) -10 (-23) 40 (4)3

Max. Temp. °F (°C) Expo-

400 (204) 500 (260) 500 (260)
sure ≤ 24 hours

Max. Temp. °F (°C) Expo-

sure ≤ 5 days 350 (177)4 400 (204)5 400 (204)

Max. Temp. °F (°C) Expo-

275 (135) 325 (163) 400 (204)
sure > 5 days

Max. Pressure at 500°F — 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa)6 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa)6

Max. Pressure at 350°F 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa) 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa) 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa)

Max. Pressure at 275°F 15,000 psi (103,410 kPa) 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa) 8,000 psi (55,152 kPa)

Max. Pressure at 150°F 20,000 psi (137,880 kPa) 15,000 psi (103,410 kPa) 8,000 psi (55,152 kPa)

1 Use Virgin PEEK backup rings above 400×F (204×C) and 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa).
2 Use Virgin PEEK backup rings above 350×F (177×C) and 5,000 psi (34,470 kPa).
3 Minimum temperature is 100×F (38×C) if back-up rings are used. The minimum temperature is 40×F (4×C) if
backup rings are not used.
4 Field reports have shown successful results of working at 350×F (190×C) for 15 days.
5 Field reports have shown successful results of working at 410×F (210×C) for 8 days.
6 Virgin PEEK backup rings (beige) are rated to 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa) at 550×F (288×C). Teflon backup rings (pink) that
are 25% glass-filled are rated to 10,000 psi (68,940 kPa) at 400×F (204×C).

September 17, 2001 Page 5 of 7 Section 15—Guidelines for Selecting

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Halliburton Energy Services®, Inc.
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 Service Tools

15K Packer Elements

The HPHT or 15K packer elements are unique in that they are not a Halliburton design, and they are made
from materials that are not generally used in HES service tools. Table 15.3 contains information that was
provided by the rubber supplier. At present, little or no field experience is available to confirm this infor-
mation.

Table 15.3—Chemical Compatibility of 15K Packer Elements

Chemical Environment HNBR AFLAS (TFE/P)

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) B A

Steam B B

Strong acid (HCl>15%) A A

Salt water A A

Aromatic hydrocarbons D1 D1

Alcohols A B

Acidic completion fluids (bro-

No information available A
mide-zinc, calcium, magnesium)

Amine inhibitors B A

Key:
A–Excellent - Recommended
B–Good - Slightly affected, but no significant chemical change
C–Conditional - Time and/or temperature limitations
D–Conditional - Operation considerations for running
E–Not recommended

1 Physical degradation could occur. See “Table 15.3 Note.”

Table 15.3 Note

Some chemicals can cause physical degradation of certain rubber types. To keep these chemicals from
prolonged contact with the rubber, pump them into the workstring and the wellbore, and do not allow them
in the drilling or completion fluids. If fluids are spotted, do not spot these chemicals across the packer seat
(overdisplacement). Run a pup joint below a retrievable packer to provide a fluid barrier for packer
elements. Place sand above a retrievable bridge plug to provide a physical barrier to pumped chemicals.

Section 15—Guidelines for Selecting Page 6 of 7 September 17, 2001

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Halliburton Energy Services®, Inc.
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Service Tools

Quality Checks
To help ensure proper usage, perform field checks on packer elements and other rubber seal components.

Visual Inspection
Always inspect packer elements and seals before use, especially if they have been used before.

Note—Never reuse any packer element or seal that is run above 275°F (135°C).

Note—Never use cracked, blistered, bubbled, split, or torn packer seals.

When inspecting elements, check the OD of the packer element for swelling. ODs are listed in tool manuals
(Service Tools, Drillable Tools, etc.).

Note—Do not run packer elements that have swollen.

Durometer Check
Durometer is a measure of the hardness of an elastomer and is measured on a Shore “A” scale, which
displays values from about 45 to 100. Generally, most packer elements and seals vary from 50 to 95 Shore
“A.” ASTM 2240 provides information for properly testing rubber durometer.

Check the durometer of packer elements and seals if they are being reused. A durometer check also ensures
that the proper packer elements are being run on tools that allow for packer elements of various durometers.

Conduct durometer tests on a thick section of rubber to ensure a proper reading. Readings must be taken
between 60 and 70°F (16 and 21°C) to correlate with the published durometers. Generally, readings at
higher temperatures will produce lower durometers. Tolerances on most packer elements and seals are ±3
Shore “A.”

Traceability
When redressing a service tool, always record the part number of the seals found on the package er, batch
number, cure date (by quarter of the year), and purchase contract number of the seals found on the package
label. This information is especially important for packer elements.

Storage
To ensure traceability and improve the shelf life of seals, always store them in their original package. For
more information about packaging, identification, and storage, see Halliburton Specification 70.72000.

September 17, 2001 Page 7 of 7 Section 15—Guidelines for Selecting

Copyright 2001 Packer Elements and Seals
Halliburton Energy Services®, Inc.
All rights reserved.