Abstract: High pressure seal between a housing and a rotating shaft includes a first annular member for attachment to the shaft, and a second annular member for attachment to the housing. The first and second annular members form nozzles and a circular leakage path permitting gas to flow from a high pressure area through the nozzles and back to the high pressure area and also form an axially leakage path to the low pressure area. The seal includes elements for causing the predominant flow of gas leaking from the high pressure area to flow along a circular path through the nozzles and back to the high pressure area, when the shaft is rotating at operating conditions.