HVAC for the Oil, Petroleum & Gas Industry

The oil, petroleum and gas industries demand a level of HVAC reliability and sustainability that only the highest quality industrial fans and other ventilation equipment can provide.

The refining processes of oil, petroleum and natural gases produce a tremendous amount of heat, corrosion, moisture, fumes and noise unlike any other industry.

Therefore, oil refineries, extraction, and other gas facilities require dependable heavy duty HVAC equipment that is implemented with a proper ventilation system.

A reputable oil and gas fan equipment supplier can provide you with:

HVAC Design for Oil and Gas Facilities

These are just a few ventilation equipment that are provided, as well as an array of other fans to meet the criteria to move air required by the gas and oil industry.

There are generally 5 types of main oil and gas facilities that have a unique production process. Each oil & gas facility requires a unique HVAC equipment.

Exploration Facilities

Drilling ventures where crude oil, petroleum and gas is searched for and extracted.

Upstream Facilities

Handle the production of the oil. Upstream facilities also are responsible for stabilizing the gas products.

Midstream Facilities

Liquified natural gas (LNG) production, gas, petroleum and oil are treated in midstream facilities. They are then run through a pipeline network system.

Refining Facility

Processing oil and its condensates into products that are marketed. Within the oil refinery there are 5 major processes:

Each of their processes produce a product such as diesel, feedstock, gasoline and other gases for the petrochemical industry.

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We’ll be happy to help assist with which model and make is best for your gas and oil application.

Transporting Oil & Gas Ventilation

There are various methods when transporting oil & gas. The major oil transportation methods are:

A pipeline network transports collected natural gas after they have been compressed by engines, gas turbines and motors. The gas compressor that is also known as a gas transfer station, must control excessive noise and internal heat temperatures.

When boosting and compressing gas to transfer through pipelines, cooling is required to adhere to safety regulations. An air cooled heat exchanger is just one way to reach this objective.

Ventilating Oil Exploration & Extraction Facilities

The various facilities for gas and oil, especially American shale, has forced regulators to implement tougher emission standards. In order to remain compliant, proper ventilation equipment, is paramount.

Combustible dust and volatile flammable liquids need to be properly controlled. As a result, ducting and industrial grade air filters are required that meet OSHA requirements.

Air pollution control to protect not only the site, process and employees, but also the people it serves and the surrounding community.

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Oil and Gas Upstream Facilities Ventilation Systems

A common issue with upstream facilities, due to the environment of producing the oil and stabilizing the gas products, is poor indoor air quality issues. Upstream production facilities can be difficult environments for employees due to poor ventilation.

Again, due to tightening compliance in the US, it’s important to provide a safe environment for oil facility’s staff. Therefore, an air filtration system of the highest quality is required.

Make-up Air Units for Oil Facilities

Upstream facilities also are responsible for stabilizing the gas products. Industrial make-up air units for oil facilities is another option that can accomplish this. Make-up air units play a vital role in properly maintaining pressure inside upstream oil production facilities.

Corrosive Duty Fans for Midstream Facilities

Although there has been negative feedback, crude oil, petroleum and liquified natural gas (LNG) pipelines are consistently being approved and prior facilities require proper ventilation. Midstream facilities implement variable frequency drive shelters (VFDs) and remote instrument enclosures.

Variable frequency drives produce large amounts of heat that must be dispelled according to proper compliance code. Failure to dissipate the immense amount of heat causes the midstream equipment to fail. Therefore, cooling and exhausting heat for these high sensible load applications is vital (source).

Exhaust Fans for Oil and Petrochemicals

Exhaust fans are necessary in all stages of oil and gas processing. Whether it’s cooling spark resistant fans or keeping employees cool, exhaust fans with sensors are available to reduce machine downtime. When dealing with volatile flammable liquids and gas, explosion rated fans are essential.

Ventilation equipment to reduce noise in VFD’s

Another factor to consider with VFD is noise control. Acoustic building systems are a solution to reduce noise generated from the gas and oil equipment.

There are several common factors that increase the noise level in VFD’s. To combat the noise there is ventilation equipment to reduce the decibel level to meet standards.

VFD Noise Reduction Equipment

Natural Gas Compressor Station

Pumping stations are commonly in remote areas and typically operate unsupervised. This creates another layer of difficulty in the event of midstream ventilation equipment failure.

Speaking with an experienced ventilation engineer is imperative to ensure these applications are properly served. Properly applied industrial turbo pressure blowers and corrosive duty fans along with custom sized industrial grade silencers for fans and blowers will provide a safe, reliable system with an exponentially lower failure rate.

Natural Ventilation in the Gas and Oil Industry

Another practical solution for pumping stations is natural ventilation. Intake or exhaust, implementing natural ventilation and having appropriate vents in strategic locations is beneficial for temperature control.

That being said, it is also common practice to achieve a level of redundancy to reduce failure rates. For that reason, industrial spark resistant fans can be used in conjunction with natural ventilation to create a pressure – gravity approach to air turnover.

This is a safer and more common approach to ventilation in the oil industry.

Oil Refinery Ventilation Systems

Oil refineries from the outside look like a small city. A city made up of tanks, pipes, building structures and towers.

Oil refineries process and refine crude oil into fuels, gas, lubricants and other high grade oil products. The refined oil and gas products are provided to consumers.

Heat removal and ventilation equipment of oil refineries must adhere to the American Petroleum Institutes (API) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards using temperature controlling equipment that adheres to their regulations.

Air filtration systems are implemented throughout the refinery. All industrial fans, blowers, make-up air units are explosion resistant that meet National Electrical Code (NEC) that is suitable for oil and gas systems.

Corrosive Duty Fans and Blowers

Due to the high temperatures and corrosive atmospheres where blowers and fans are required to exhaust gases; corrosive fans and blowers are compulsory. The materials used to construct the fan, as well as the fan design, must be carefully considered to achieve optimal performance while also being extremely durable.

Gas and oil generate corrosive byproducts and condensates that must be exhausted. These corrosives introduced to the environments must be taken into account when selecting materials and design of heavy duty industrial fans and blowers in order to maximize performance.

Oil and Gas Electrical Equipment for Class 1, Div. 1

All electrical equipment, such as ventilation equipment, is required to meet class 1 div 1 guidelines. Such equipment is necessary in areas where explosives, gases and asphyxiation is possible. Class 1 Div 1 exhaust fans are required most oil facilities.

Explosion rated controls, fans, and components suitable for a Class 1 Division 1 are required and applied accordingly. The equipment needed must check all of the boxes, suitable for heavy duty applications such as oil and gas, explosive duty, corrosive duty and moisture laden applications that create condensates.

Any company that operates work sites that include hazardous materials require products that are certified to ensure staff safety.

Certified Exhaust Fans for the Oil Industry

Only testing from an accredited laboratory can certify ventilation equipment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes qualified firms, such as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). The NRTL is able to evaluate hazardous location equipment and certifies them when they meet ventilation requirements.

When electrical equipment passes the specification and design requirements that are critical for safety they are then certified. A few of the main assessment parameters include:

Also included in the evaluation is auditing the manufacturing plant where the equipment was built in order to certify regulations in ventilation equipment manufacturing.

The ventilation equipment provided for the oil and gas industry will provide a clean, quiet and safe environment for the site and the surrounding community.

Oil & Gas Ventilation Equipment Supplier

R. Williamson & Associates has been in the ventilation business since 1931 and has a long history of providing ventilation equipment for all stages in the oil, gas and petroleum facilities.

Should you have any questions or comments regarding an application please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our trusted experts.

HVAC for the Oil, Petroleum & Gas Industry