A recent trend in crude oil transportation is to utilize API Piping Plan 65/75 to detect and capture primary mechanical seal leakage. Many systems providers have designed sheet metal containment vessels for these applications. These “boxes” are lightly built and susceptible to leakage during a mechanical seal failure event.

Since our founding in 2013, Flexaseal Engineered Seals and Systems, LLC has promoted more durable solutions to the Oil and Gas markets. Our Plan 65/75 for pipeline applications is a true pressure vessel design. Our standard design features:

• Removeable head for easy clean out and reliable sealing
• Liquid level indicator
• ASME Code welding
• High quality pipe materials with certificates
• Heavy duty mounting feet
• Standard MAWP’s from 100 to over 3000 PSIG
• Hydrostatic test certificates

Our system can be optioned with a wide variety of instruments from simple float level switches that just alarm to sophisticated level transmitters that provide operations a true level indication in the vessel.

When you are moving hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude in remote locations, at high pressure, why put your company’s reputation at risk with a sheet metal box made by the lowest bidder?

Flexaseal is standing by to tackle your routine and custom seal support system challenges.

A major US pipeline operator selected Flexaseal Engineered Seals and Systems, LLC to produce an automated version of MES’ Plan 12 Flush Filtration System. API piping plan 12 is used to supply filtered flush fluid, sourced from a tap on the pump, to each mechanical seal. The flush is filtered through a proprietary 10 micron glass-borosilicate filter that limits mechanical seal contamination, extending seal life.

Flexaseal has supplied over 50 systems to date with more in production. The automated piping plan 12 features an Explosion proof junction box and motor-operated-valves to allow the user to switch between filter banks remotely. This limits operator time at the pumping station when a filter needs servicing.

Each system supports two pipeline pump seals and can be installed on new or existing pump stations. Flexaseal’s innovative customer connection panel and knock-off cap filter housing design allow for intuitive connections and quick filter replacements. The systems also feature a magnetic pre-filter that dramatically extends filter life by removing magnetic “pipeline rouge” before the flush is filtered to 10 microns for seal support. Flow is monitored and controlled via automated flow control valves, guided by flow transmitters, located on the downstream legs of the seal supply lines, producing variable flow conditions as pump RPM fluctuates.

This two-stage filtration technology was developed by Flexaseal specifically to address an industry challenge associated with very high filter change rates, especially after a pipeline is “pigged” and pumps are brought back into service.

The mechanical seal support system was 100% designed and manufactured at Flexaseal’s new headquarters in Houston, Texas with each vessel being ASME U-Stamped. Flexaseal maintains both ASME U and National Board registrations to ensure the highest possible quality and safety standards for all pressure containing vessels.

A major US refinery recently selected Flexaseal Engineered Seals and Systems, LLC to provide its new centralized plan 54 for their critical pumps. A piping plan 54 is used to supply pressurized barrier fluid to multiple pump locations for mechanical seal support. The barrier fluid pressure blanket is maintained above the process pressure while providing clean, cool lubricating fluid to the primary and secondary seal faces.

Flexaseal custom designed the system to the customer’s specifications to include (3) screw pumps, (2) 1,200-gallon reservoirs, dual cooling and filtration systems and an automatic flow and temperature control system.

Up to 25 pump seals can be lubricated with this system simultaneously. Flexaseal will also be furnishing local seal control panels for each pump seal that will allow flow and pressure control as well as provide seal leakage monitoring at each station. These seal panel kits provide critical feedback to the refinery operators on the health of each seal during operation.

The system was 100% designed and manufactured at Flexaseal’s new headquarters in Houston, Texas. A complete system functional test was performed prior to shipment. Start up and commissioning will also be provided.