Considered the largest industry in terms of production and financial value, the oil and gas industry is a global powerhouse making use of millions of laborers and generating billions in dollars. In terms of contributing to the economy, they provide essential products required by several other industries, and they contribute significantly to national and global GDP.
There are three major divisions of this sector, each having different functions to perform:
- Upstream sector- This looks after the central exploration of underwater and underground gasses and oil reserves.
- Midstream Sector- This refers to transportation, processing, and storage of oil and gasses.
- Downstream Sector: This sector looks after refining, filtering, and purifying to produce end products for the consumer.
The dependence on this sector increases by the day as the world’s economies heavily rely on these products and act as byproducts for majorly all industries.
Secondary Things You Need While You Are In Oil And Gas Industry:
1. Efficient Valves:
Valves are an essential element in any piping system, thus, necessary for the oil and gas industry. They regulate the flow of the substance and help soothe the purifying process of both products. An efficient valve system eases the job in the production process and makes the underlying processes easier.
The substance’s flow depends on the valves’ quality and control system. They come in various varieties, including different shapes and sizes. They can be classified as butterfly valve lug type vs. wafer type ball valve, globe valve, etc. Different valves are used for different purposes. In an upstream setting, these valves usually control the flow of the substance. For the midstream process, valves become a part of the process involving the transportation of oil and gas and protect the equipment from severe damage. In downstream settings, valves are used to hold the high pressure.
Tubular Furnace:
This equipment holds significant importance in both industries. An electric heating device used in synthesizing and purifying inorganic compounds is a cylindrical chamber surrounded by heating coils. Ensuring that the furnace is molded perfectly is essential. Make sure that medical injection molders are used to manufacture your furnace, as the structure of the furnace will matter when it comes to the purification process.
They enable the combustion of solid materials, liquid materials, or gaseous fuels to generate a source of heat which is further required for the processing of oils and gasses. Furnaces use customized auto parts and are divided into two types:
- Cracking furnaces
- Reforming furnaces
Boilers:
Generally used to generate massive amounts of steam, boilers are an essential piece of equipment for oil and gas production. The steam produced has multiple applications- from steam stripping to stream distillation and any process involving high-temperature heating and vacuum processes. They are manufactured by highly experienced engineers who make customized auto parts.
The boiler is filled with vast amounts of water and is a closed vessel to convert all of the water that lies inside it, reaching temperatures that are otherwise difficult to reach.
Pumps:
The most common equipment used by the oil and gas industry is pumps. These are essential parts of the process required at every stage, including upstream, midstream, and downstream. They accelerate the process of transferring the liquids and gasses from one place to another to carry out other processes smoothly.
There are various types of pumps used by oil and gas industries:
- Centrifugal Pumps
- Oil Pumps
- Positive Displacement Pumps
- Oil transfer Pumps
- Diaphragm Pumps
- Tight Electric Pumps
- Petrochemical Pumps, etc.
Heat Exchangers:
This equipment transfers heat from one fluid to another, ensuring that the venture into oil and gas works well. Used within cracking units, they are utilized to separate oil from water. They control the flow of liquid across similar ways, crossways, and concurrent ways. Similarly, the liquids flow in the same direction, while in crossways, the liquids flow in perpendicular directions. The concurrent flow of liquids occurs when the liquids flow in opposite directions and do not intersect.
Another critical point to note is that heat exchangers, by nature, also keep the substances safe at high temperatures. They are composed differently- some are engineered using small tubes, and some consist of flat plates with a place for fluid to flow between them. They are also available in many variants, such as shell and tube heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers, regenerative heat exchangers, etc.
Bottomline:
When looking for equipment in the oil and gas industry, there are several factors involved:
- Ensure that the manufacturer or the brand you are buying them from is trusted and approved.
- Durability is another prerequisite when buying the equipment as the products are expensive, and spending money on regular repairs can burn a hole in your pocket.
Thus, understanding the need to tick mark a checklist before you pay for the equipment is essential. The oil and Gas industry is expensive overall, and nobody would want to spend more and earn less.