AX, CX, and VX Gaskets

[06engrexec06]

Hello All,

The majority of my experience has been in the refining industry. I am familiar with basic API ring gasket design, but I am trying to learn about the specialty (AX, CX, and VX) gaskets that are utilized in offshore drilling and production systems. What are the origins of these various gaskets and what are their main applications? Also, who are some of the manufacturers of these gaskets? Thanks everyone!

 

[DrillerNic]

I'm not familliar with all three of the gaskets that you've mentioned, but I know the VX seal ring well and have used the AX seal ring too. I'm not familliar with the CX gasket.

The VX seal ring is a T shaped seal ring made by Vetco in their speciallty wellhead connectors: the H4 subsea connector for example. The AX seal ring is Cameron's version of the same thing- a high performance metal to metal seal for the connection between a BOP (or Xmas tree) and the wellhead (or for other quick connect subsea connections).

Most of these speciality seal rings are hydraulic connector alternatives to the API ring joint flange which is very bulky, space consuming and very slow to make up. they are ALWAYS used on subsea connections (would you like to make up a 10k 21-1/4" BOP flange in 450m of water....24 stud bolts each over 2ft long? I thought not!), and often used on surface wellhead connections due to their speed and weight savingings. Other specialty gaskets are also used in bolted quick connect alternatives to API ring joints like the VG seal used in Vetco's Graylok flange.

 

[06engrexec06]

Thank you for your reply DrillerNic. Do you know some of the manufacturers of these specialty seal rings such as the AX or VX? Please provide any recommendations you may have. Thanks!

 

[DrillerNic]

As far as I know the VX seal ring is a speciality Vetco Gray item (

http://www.vetcogray.com/products/cds/subsea_connectors.cfm?section1=True&section2=False)

and similarly, the AX seal ring is bought from Cameron (

http://www.coopercameron.com,

look unnder drilling then subsea drilling then the collet connection pages). I don't think these items are commodities like API ring gaskets!