Oil and gas are among the world’s largest industries. Oil, natural gas, and more are abundant far below the Earth’s surface. To extract these resources, oil and gas companies use various equipment to dig, drill and pump the way to incredible profits. Did all that equipment talk confuse you?
Let’s dig deep to understand equipment used in oil and gas production
1. Wellhead
Wellhead control panels is what connects your rig to your pipe, which goes down into the ground where you’re drilling for oil or gas. The wellhead also has a valve that allows you to control how much fluid flows through it and how much pressure builds up inside the pipe before it reaches its destination at the surface of Earth’s crust, where you can access your resources for extraction purposes!
2. Tubing hanger
The tubing hanger is a device that holds the tubing in place while it’s being run into a well. It allows for easy installation and removal of tubing from the well without having to remove other components such as packers or cement sheaths that hold down other types of equipment in place during drilling operations onsite at any given time during construction or maintenance activities.
3. Production Tubing
Production tubing is used in the oil & gas engineering solutions industry to transport hydrocarbons from the reservoir to the surface. The production tubing is typically made of steel but can also be made of other materials, such as aluminum. The production tubing is connected to a wellhead at the surface and extends downward into the reservoir.
4. Downhole Safety Valve
A downhole safety valve is an automatic shut-off device installed at various depths within a well. It closes when certain conditions are met (for example: when the pressure drops below a predetermined level), thus preventing fluids from flowing into open spaces in the formation and causing a blowout.
5. Production packer
A production packer is a tool used in oil and gas production to seal off the wellbore from the formation. It can either be cemented or set with a mechanical setting tool. While cementing is commonly used, it’s also possible to set these tools with a mechanical setting tool, including a “Christmas tree” and other equipment that helps secure it.
6. Christmas tree (oil well)
The Christmas tree (also known as a wellhead) is a structure placed over an oil or gas well to allow petroleum engineers and workers access. It consists of multiple valves and control equipment that regulates the flow of oil or gas from the well into pipelines for transportation to refineries for processing into products such as gasoline and jet fuel. A Christmas tree can be installed using cementing techniques or mechanical tools.
7. Fluid End Expendables
Fluid end expendables are equipment used to treat a pipeline’s end. Modular Well-site Packages are often used in transmission lines, gathering systems, and oil and gas production facilities. They can be used to remove moisture or other impurities from the pipeline, which will help to ensure that it is not damaged during use.
8. Dehydrators
Dehydrators are one of the most important components of oil and gas production. The dehydration unit removes moisture from natural gas, which can significantly reduce its volume. The dehydrator also helps remove unwanted elements like hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, etc., which might be present in natural gas.
9. Flare Knockout Drum
A flare knockout drum removes the flare gas from the well. It is connected to the wellhead with a flare stack and a casing string. The flare knockout drum is used to reduce the gas flow rate during production periods and maximize the throughput of oil or gas by using a choke valve.
10. Sand Traps And Filters
Sand traps and filters are used in oil and gas production facilities to remove particulates from the flow of hydrocarbons in the facility’s pipelines. These devices can be made out of stainless steel or plastic and come in many different shapes and size depending on their users’ needs (e.g., if they need to handle large volumes of sand particles).
11. Blowout Preventer
A blowout preventer is used in oil and gas drilling to isolate the wellbore from the surrounding environment. It can also be referred to as a blowout preventer stack or simply a BOP stack. The blowout preventer is installed on the seabed at the end of an oil well, where it sits until needed. When a well begins to flow oil or gas uncontrollably, the BOP stack is lowered into the well and activated. When activated, this will close off the wellbore and prevent any further flow of oil or gas out of it.
12. Gas-Oil Separation Plant (GOSP)
A Gas-Oil Separation Plant (GOSP) is a piece of equipment used in oil and gas production. It is a process used to separate natural gas from crude oil, allowing for easier delivery and storage of the product. The GOSP also prevents hazardous chemicals from leaking into the atmosphere, making it an environmentally friendly option for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
13. Gasoline Tanks
A Gasoline Tank is a piece of equipment used in oil and gas production. It stores gasoline after it has been separated from crude oil, allowing for easier delivery and storage of the product. The tank can hold up to 10,000 gallons of gasoline at one time and is made out of high-strength steel so that it will not leak or burst under pressure.
14. Oilfield Workover Rigs
The oil and gas industry is one of the most important industries in the world, so it’s no surprise that a lot of effort has gone into improving its efficiency. One way to do this is with an oilfield workover rig, which is used to repair wells that have been damaged by natural wear and tear or human error. The workover rig can be used to repair the well or even horizontal drilling equipment if necessary.
The oilfield workover rig consists of multiple parts, including:
- A drill string (the pipe that connects the drill bit to the surface)
- A casing head (the part that holds the casing)
- A top drive (the hydraulic pump that runs through the entire system)
- A swivel (the part where the pipe connects to another piece of pipe)
15. Compressors
A compressor is a piece of equipment that uses pressurized gas to force liquids into different containers or through pipes at higher pressures than they would naturally allow for. This process helps increase the overall efficiency of oil production and extraction processes by allowing faster separation times between oil and water (which is often an important part of any extraction process).
16. Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
An Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) is a type of well pump that is used in oil and gas production. It is different from other pumps because it requires no outside power source. Instead, it uses electricity from the surface to run itself. This means that it can be installed anywhere in an oil well or gas well, even when there are no other power sources nearby.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this quick overview of oil and gas production equipment. There are many different ways to drill and extract oil, depending on where the resource is located, who owns the land, and what technology is available.