Guide to Oil and Gas Industry Equipment News and Trends

Stay abreast of technological changes in oil and gas industry equipment

By Elizabeth Gibson

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find oil industry equipment associations that keep up on the latest news

Non-profit organizations often provide the best sources of information about an industry. Their information does not favor manufacturers, suppliers, end users or others because they have nothing to gain. Therefore, such trade associations can provide reliable information on oil and gas industry equipment news and trends.

I recommend: Stay up to date with news on oil and gas industry equipment from Subsea Oil & Gas Directory. You'll also find links to equipment repair, fabrication, equipment manufacturers and other parts and services related to drilling for oil and gas in a marine environment on their webiste. Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association serves the United States oil field service and supply industry. This association has a newsletter to keep members apprised of upcoming events and studies government regulations that may affect the industry.

Choose oil and gas equipment related magazines to understand technological developments

Both the main articles and the advertisements can supply important information to a potential purchaser of oil and gas equipment. Online versions of magazines can provide more current information but these versions sometimes do not supply the same level of detail as the print versions.

I recommend: Oil, Gas and Petrochem Equipment Magazine provides news on the latest advances in equipment. It also features research white papers and schedules of upcoming events related to the industry. Pennwell Corporation publishes Offshore Magazine, a publication dedicated to covering issues and trends related to offshore drilling technology.

Look for government and other sources for oil industry equipment news and trends

Every business must follows laws, so keeping up with governmental regulations that may affect your operation helps you buy the correct oil field equipment. Some government studies also contain important information about an industry. Other interested organizations and businesses also provide networking services that help members of the business keep on the latest news and trends.

I recommend: The University of Louisville provides an informative listing of government resources related to the oil and gas industry. Offshore-Environment discusses events and news related to offshore drilling for oil. This site focuses on the environmental impact of drilling and how to mitigate it. RigZone provides news related to oil and gas industry companies and events around the world.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some oil equipment manufacturers and suppliers focus on equipment for drillers or equipment for refineries. Some similarities exist but much of the equipment varies greatly. Be sure you work with the correct supplier depending on which end of the oil and gas business you go into.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Go with oil field equipment companies known for reliable oil rigs

An oil drilling rig is considered the heart and soul of the oil and gas industry, as the oil field equipment drills for oil and gas in hard-to-find places. It's complex equipment in that it contains rotating, mechanical,and circulation components. Ensure that you purchase oil rigs from an oil and gas equipment company that uses the latest technology.

I recommend: Stewart & Stevenson performs in-house oil equipment services, including inventing, engineering, and producing oil field equipment; Stewart & Stevenson complies with both the International Standards Organization (ISO) and American Petroleum Institute (API). BuyRigs.com is another global company. This company focuses on producing the best petroleum equipment and oil equipment services possible.

Stick with oil and gas equipment companies that make dependable instrumentation

You'll require oil gas equipment to help you precisely monitor liquid or gas levels. Another piece of oil equipment you'll need is a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). This will ensure you can continue your work when power outages or fire surges occur.

I recommend: SenDEC makes instrumentation devices, such as liquid fuel gauges to exactly monitor liquid or gas levels; you'll need to connect the gauges to either liquid resistive devices or a fuel sender. You’ll also want to look at Allard Electronics Supply; their UPS can handle fire surges. You can also swap out the batteries so that you can continue to operate your UPS.

Work with oil equipment companies that make glycol pumps

If you will be doing offshore drilling, it's important that you get glycol pumps and make sure that this oil and gas industry equipment is high quality. These pumps must be corrosion-resistant. They will be under water for long periods of time,so they must withstand salt and other contaminants.

I recommend: Dynex High Pressure Hydraulics makes glycol pumps that are corrosion-resistant and useful for remote locations. Based in Wisconsin, Dynex has been in business since 1957. Kimray also makes glycol pumps for oil and gas businesses; headquartered in Oklahoma, Kimray has been in business since 1948.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Subscribe to the Petro Flow Online magazine to get information on new oil and gas industry equipment under development.

Guide to Making the Most of Oil and Gas Industry Equipment

Selecting reliable and durable oil and gas industry equipment for a hazardous work environment

By Elizabeth Gibson

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find oil and gas equipment that keeps your business in operation

Every oil industry business needs the basic drilling rig or platform, piping, drills and drill bits. This oil field equipment represents a major expenditure and many owners consider purchasing used, rental and leased equipment as well.

I recommend: Rig Builders International sells new and used land-based and offshore drilling rigs. Take advantage of these sources to save money. The company also sells drilling equipment and has a program for companies to sell their used equipment. Evans Energy makes quality exploration drilling rigs.

Look for major oil production equipment for your operation

Besides major structural machinery such as your drilling rig and your piping, your operation needs a variety of other equipment and machinery to ensure the success of your operation.

I recommend: Harbison-Fischer Mfg. Co. makes a variety of oil and gas industry equipment. This company specializes in sucker rod pump barrels, subsurface pumps and other equipment. GE Oil & Gas manufactures a line of oil equipment specific for that industry. Equipment includes pumps, centrifuges, turbines, compressors and many other products.

Evaluate what types of safety equipment for the oil industry you need at the job site

Working on oil and gas drilling rigs represents one of the most dangerous work sites. Fortunately, a number of oil industry supplies help protect employees and equipment from serious danger. These safety products only achieve their purpose if used correctly.

I recommend: Custom Safety Products makes a variety of non-skid mats for drilling rigs. These mats fit the rig floor, pipe racks, consoles and other common walking areas. EFA Technologies produces leak detection equipment for piping. EFA's patented Pressure Point Analysis (PPA) equipment detects small changes in energy and momentum in gas and liquid pipelines. Safety Advantage produces a variety of safety videos related to the offshore drilling industry, including how to perform safe personnel rope and basket transfers, oil spill response and safe crane operation.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The oil and gas industry has large numbers of injuries and accidents. Study industry statistics so you know how to better protect your employees with and from the equipment you buy. Pay attention to governmental safety and environmental regulations that also may dictate the type of oil industry equipment you must have.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Barrel

The barrel is the standard unit of measurement for oil. One barrel equals 42 gallons of petroleum. While oil is no longer shipped in barrels, this unit of measurement has been the standard since the 1800s.

I recommend: Read more about oil barrels at Time Magazine.

Refinery

A refinery is a factory that processes and refines crude oil. Crude oil is converted into more usable products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil and kerosene at oil refineries. Due to the demand of these products, oil refineries never close and operate daily with numerous employees.

I recommend: Read more about oil refineries at Energy Information Administration.

Horizontal drilling

Horizontal drilling is an oil drilling method that allows oil and gas operators to access a larger portion of the producing horizon than they would intersect using the conventional vertical drilling technique. Horizontal drilling has become one of the most useful oil drilling techniques. As oil prices increase, horizontal drilling gains popularity because it is an enhanced gas recovery technique.

I recommend: Learn more about horizontal drilling at the University of Wisconsin.

Blowout preventer

The blowout preventer is a device installed at the end of the oil wellhead to control the flow of oil pressure in the space between the oil casing and drill pipe.

I recommend: Find out more about blowout preventers at Schlumberger.

Pipeline

Gas, crude oil and petroleum are pumped through pipelines. A pipeline connects two points that can be on or offshore.

I recommend: Learn more about pipelines at Pipeline 101.

Christmas tree

In the oil and gas industry, a casinghead through which a well is produced has a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree is the assembly of valves mounted on the casinghead used to test the well and shut the well in if needed.

I recommend: Find out more about Christmas trees at Prodigy Oil and Gas.