SKF
showcased a range of innovations for Oil & Gas OEMs at Offshore Technology
Conference from May 5-8, 2014 in the US.
The new products have been customised especially to meet the needs of the oil
and gas industry and include tapered roller thrust bearings, Locking T-seals
and low torque operator gate valve assemblies, according to a company statement.
“Harsher
environments demand solutions that can withstand higher pressures and
temperatures to minimize maintenance and downtime,” said Marty Herzog, Director
Business Development and Marketing, SKF Traditional Energy Business Unit.
“These new innovations benefit our customers by improving reliability and
efficiency, while also meeting increased safety and environmental regulations,”
added Herzog.
The
SKF Tapered roller thrust bearings are characterised by their high load
carrying capacity and ability to accommodate shock loads, coupled with an
exceptional wear resistance even under an ineffective lubricant film
condition. SKF Engineers have optimised
both the design and the processes to manufacture tapered roller thrust bearings
and can work with you to maximise the performance of your top drive by customising
the bearing features to meet the specific needs of your application. Options include simulating the interaction of
top drive components from a system perspective with proprietary simulation
tools, customisation to non-standard dimensions and special coatings and
surface treatments. With improved reliability at higher loads, increased load
carrying capacity and better wear resistance SKF Tapered thrust roller bearings
allow attainment of higher top drive tonnage capacity within the existing
design envelope.
The
patented SKF Locking T-seal offers equipment designers and end-users a robust
replacement option for conventional T-seals and spring back-up seals, both of
which are subject to damage during installation, assembly, or disassembly. SKFs enhanced Locking T-seals are
specifically designed to meet the extreme environmental conditions of high
pressure / high temperature sealing applications.
SKF
offers the broadest range and longest experience in providing low torque
operator gate valve assemblies for high pressure well head systems. The high precision designs of SKF - combining
ball or roller screws, support bearings and seals in a unitized assembly -
simplify installation and field retrofit.
New design concepts, such as the anti-backdrive feature first introduced
to the market by SKF, increased power density and very low torque make them
suitable for applications with high reliability and low maintenance
requirements, such as subsea ROV-operated installations and hydraulic
fracturing operations. Because SKF low torque operator assemblies for gate
valves are provided as a complete housed assembly, overall cost is lowered
while accuracy and consistency is increased since the final assembly is quality
controlled and tested before being shipped to customer.
At
this event SKF also introduced Kaydon as the newest member of the SKF
Group. The $1.25B USD acquisition
completed in late 2013 makes SKF the leading global supplier of slewing ring
and thin section bearings for Oil & Gas applications, such as iron rough
necks, crane turrets and mooring systems.
Now, with its expanded manufacturing footprint, SKF can dramatically
improve supply chain, logistics and support to Oil & Gas OEMs and end users
in North America.
Source: SKF