Making a tight seal between two pipes of different diameters can be difficult. That is especially true when those pipes carry fluid that flows at a high speed or may be carrying foreign objects. Multi-Flex Annular Seals from Petersen Products are designed specifically for those situations.

Petersen Products Multi-Flex Annular Seals simply slip over the end of a pipe, creating a seal between an inner bypass pipe and the outer main pipeline. According to Phil Lundman, Petersen Products CEO, the versatile product is a fit for many different applications.

“The Petersen Annular Seal can be quickly manufactured for most size, pressure, temperature and chemical requirements,” he says. “The Annular Seal can be used really in any industry that requires a seal between two pipe diameters.”

Multi-Flex Annular Seals are designed to be very flexible, be easy to install, and offer many inflation connection options. They are ideal for bypassing a pipeline during repairs on a variety of small to large temporary pipeline connections.

“Customers find the Petersen Annular Seal much easier to install because it is very flexible and lightweight while customizable for almost any project requirement,” Lundman says. “It is manufactured from a durable ballistic nylon-reinforced polyurethane material designed to maintain durability for long periods.”

To inflate the seal, it includes an easy-to-access, 1/4-inch NPT port. Using a common air compressor, a technician inflates the seal to a maximum of 25 psi when supported on the outside and inside diameters of the two pipes being joined, creating a watertight, leak-proof barrier.

“The product has been on the market for roughly five years after several years of product development,” Lundman says. “It’s been very well-received in the industry.”

As an example of the product’s durability, he points to a case where the Annular Seal was employed in the repair of an oil rig tension leg nearly 100 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. The seal held up to the corrosive saltwater, allowing the technicians to make the necessary repairs.

“Most users of our inflatable seals will not have nearly so much at stake: They won’t be contending with 96 feet of saltwater, and the continued performance of an oil platform won’t be at risk,” Lundman says. “But they will still be used in important, high-pressure situations, and it’s good to know the technology has been proven to work well, even when the challenges are extreme.” 800-926-1926; www.petersenproducts.com.