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Oil and Gas rig
Technology, Oil-Free Air Compressors

Utility and Instrumentation Air for the Oil and Gas Industry

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From the well to power generation, the oil and gas industry demands reliable and sustainable compressed air equipment. Before drilling can even begin, seismic exploration helps unearth hydrocarbon deposits both onshore and offshore. Once the crude oil has been processed and treated to make it safe and viable for downstream petrochemical processes, it is transported via pipeline or aboard vessels and tanker trucks. Once the crude oil arrives at its destination, refinery and petrochemical plants process the oil to get it ready for distribution to the energy market and power generation industries.

Throughout upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas applications, utility and instrumentation air plays a vital role.

Utility and Instrumentation Air Applications in Oil and Gas Industry

Whether used during the final painting job on the platform, sandblasting metal components on a ship, cleaning vessels and pipes, gas flaring or kick-starting your mechanical rotating equipment, utility and instrumentation air is always in demand.

Instrument air packages are often customized to meet the needs of offshore and onshore installations, especially when safe area and hazardous area classifications are required. A typical instrument air skid package contains multiple compressors with dryers and filtration systems that provide high-quality, dry air for a range of applications from pneumatic controls and actuation of critical valves, to buffer sealing gas.

Types of Compressors Used in Utility and Instrumentation Air Applications

The following compressors are used to deliver high-quality compressed air for utility and instrumentation applications.

  • Oil-free centrifugal compressors - In modern configurations of centrifugal air compressors, ultra-high speed electric motors are used to drive the impellers. This results in a compact compressor without a gearbox and associated oil-lubrication system, thus making it oil-free and appropriate for applications that require 100 percent oil-free air. Oil-free centrifugal compressors are also a good choice for an engineered skid combined with dryers, controls and receivers.
  • Oil-free screw compressors – Oil-free screw compressors offer ultimate reliability and efficiency even under the harshest conditions. Atlas Copco’s Z series of oil-free screw compressors can also be engineered with a fire-proof canopy and additional controls on an engineered skid.
  • Oil-free tooth compressors – The compression rotor in oil-free tooth compressors utilizes a symmetrical, dynamically-balanced rotor that facilitates efficient and oil-free compression. Because no venting of the pressure element is required, energy consumption is considerably lower compared to single stage compression systems.
  • Oil-injected screw compressor Oil-injected screw compressors provide high-quality air, are easy to install and require minimal on-site installation work. Because oil-injected screw compressors can withstand harsh conditions, they are ideal aboard marine vessels (if Class 0-certified oil-free air is not required for the application).
  • Low pressure blowers and compressors – Low pressure blowers and compressors are ideal for applications requiring low pressure air such as aeration, pneumatic conveying and sulfur recovery, among others.

If you’d like to learn more about Atlas Copco’s solutions for the oil and gas industry, fill out our request a quote form and a representative will be in touch with you shortly.

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