Deal for seals

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Global seals manufacturer John Crane has announced the successful completion of its €6m contract with GE Oil & Gas to supply mechanical gas seals for use in Qatar.

Global seals manufacturer John Crane has announced the successful completion of a €6m (£5m) contract with GE Oil & Gas to supply mechanical gas seals for use in Qatar.

The seals were manufactured in Slough and provided for the Qatargas II project, which is owned 70/30 by Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil.

The contract involved John Crane creating gas seals for what is said to be the world’s largest liquid nitrogen gas compressor.

To do this the shaft size of John Crane’s largest seal had to be increased from 300 to 350mm in diameter and tests were carried out to ensure that they withstood temperatures of -110°C to more than +150°C and a maximum pressure of 40-bar.

According to John Crane, the new seals are the largest in existence and have helped to increase production at the plant by 60 per cent.

The company is hopeful that the completion of this contract will generate significant aftermarket services.

Dave Hill, vice-president of product line management at John Crane, said: ‘Two thirds of our business is generated by the aftermarket.

‘These contracts demonstrate how we are working in partnership with world class customers to deliver outstanding technology for leading-edge projects.’