Top Industrial Fluid Systems for Oil and Gas Sectors in Canada

Fluid Systems in Upstream Operations

Whether you are employing conventional oil and gas production techniques or steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), the seal support system is the basis for safeguarding all rotating equipment. Accounting for almost 40% of pump failures, seal failure is a major problem that can lead to unplanned downtime. 

Seal support systems protect rotating equipment from damage by providing lubrication to seal surfaces, controlling pressure and temperature in the seal chamber and seal itself, and flushing the seal of contaminants and/or residue. These systems also prevent the system process fluid from leaking into the atmosphere, which is essential for the safety of the operator and for maintaining continuous operations. If a seal is leaking, time must be taken to address this leak point in order to resume normal operations; thus, a reliable and robust seal support system is the ticket to maximizing uptime.

During the upstream process, it is important to regularly sample the system process fluid as well as any water that may be used in the process, such as recycled water used for SAGD. Around 90% of the water used for SAGD must be recycled, treated, and reused in the boiler to provide the necessary steam to heat bitumen underground. Sampling this treated water is crucial for boiler efficiency. If the water is not properly treated, hard scale build-up may develop on the inside of the boiler tubes, leading to increased fuel consumption and increased temperatures—which can often result in mechanical failure. The solution here is to have a reliable grab sampling system that provides timely representative samples to best inform the process.

Fluid Systems in Midstream Operations

Pumps and compressors are relied upon to transport oil and natural gas through pipelines. To ensure integrity, pumps and compressors should be thoroughly tested. Edmonton Valve & Fitting is equipped to support you through any midstream operations—from fluid transfer to custody transfer.

Finding the right seal support system for midstream operations means finding a system that maximizes overall reliability and provides extended maintenance intervals to keep processes running smoothly and efficiently. This means finding a system designed with reliability and maintainability in mind. Ease of operation and maintenance means less risk of operator error.

During fluid transfer, and especially custody transfer, the sampling and testing of oil must be efficient. Due to the high value and large volume of crude oil, it is important that the sampling and measurement systems are accurate. During this process, the oil must move through the pipelines at high flow rates to ensure a representative sample is attained. A fast loop sampling system should be utilized, as it is designed to handle high flows in the transport lines to reduce time delays for online analyzers. In this stage, all measures should be taken to ensure the fastest response time while also minimizing sample waste. Edmonton Valve & Fitting provides intuitively designed customizable fast loop modules with minimal connections to reduce the number of leak points.

Fluid Systems in Downstream Operations

Industrial fluid systems for oil and gas are also critical in downstream operations, especially in refineries. Rotating equipment failure and the inability to obtain representative samples are two of the greatest challenges for Canadian refineries. Having reliable and safe seal support and grab sampling systems is important for maximizing uptime. 

Often, especially in older refineries, seal support systems may be overlooked. However, these systems are just as important in downstream processes as they are in upstream and midstream. Without a properly designed and installed seal support system, seals are certain to have a shorter life cycle or potentially cause a mechanical failure. This is particularly apparent in centrifugal pumps used during the refining process. If a seal causes a failure in the system, the entire operation comes to a halt, as refineries rely heavily on these pumps.

Obtaining samples in oil and gas refineries helps process engineers make informed decisions to improve the efficacy of the refining process. These sampling systems should be designed in such a way that a representative sample can be acquired and it is not contaminated by previous samples in the line. 

Finding the Top Industrial Fluid Systems Perfectly Suited for Your Needs

Industrial fluid systems for oil and gas are vital components in safeguarding equipment for all upstream, midstream, and downstream processes. Partnering with Edmonton Valve & Fitting offers you the combination of global expertise and local support from highly experienced individuals through our Field Advisory Services.