Bearings for Oil & Gas Applications
Bearings in oil and gas applications must withstand extreme conditions including high pressures, temperatures, and corrosive environments. Proper material selection and sealing are critical for reliable operation in upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
Common Equipment
Drilling mud pumps, compressors, turbines, pipeline pumps, separator vessels, offshore cranes
Selection Criteria
Temperature rating, corrosion resistance, load capacity, seal effectiveness, API compliance
Compliance Notes
API 610 for pumps, API 617 for compressors, API 541 for motors. Materials must be NACE MR0175 compliant for sour service.
Part Types
Ball Bearings
Ball bearings use spherical rolling elements to reduce friction. Suitable for moderate radial and thrust loads at high speeds.
Ceramic Bearings
High-speed, corrosion-resistant ceramic elements
Linear Bearings
Support linear motion applications
Magnetic Bearings
Contactless support using magnetic levitation
Mounted Bearings
Pre-assembled bearing units with housings
Needle Bearings
Thin cylindrical rollers for compact radial loads
Roller Bearings
Roller bearings use cylindrical, tapered, or spherical rollers for heavy radial loads. Higher load capacity than ball bearings.
Sleeve Bearings
Sleeve bearings (bushings) provide sliding contact support. Simple design with low cost, suitable for slow speeds and oscillating motion.
Spherical Bearings
Self-aligning for misalignment compensation
Thrust Bearings
Thrust bearings support axial loads parallel to the shaft. Available in ball, roller, and sliding configurations.