Face seal assembly and an associated method thereof

A method comprising:

• injecting a pressurized fluid at a first pressure against a rotor bearing face of a rotor through a plurality of isolated hydrostatic ports of a face seal assembly to generate a fluid-film between the rotor and the face seal assembly, wherein the face seal assembly comprises:
• a seal ring comprising a seal bearing face, a first pressure cavity, and the plurality of isolated hydrostatic ports extending from the first pressure cavity to the seal bearing face, and wherein the face seal assembly is slidably coupled to a stator and defines a face seal clearance between the rotor bearing face and the seal bearing face;
• directing a process fluid at a second pressure along the stator and the rotor, and leaking a portion of the process fluid from a second pressure cavity to a third pressure cavity through the face seal clearance, wherein the second and third pressure cavities are defined by the stator, the rotor, and the face seal assembly, wherein the first pressure cavity is isolated from the second and third pressure cavities, and wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure;
• and
• rotating the rotor for a fluid-film riding operation of the face seal assembly.