HEAVY IRON NEWS
What Is An Oil Line Heater?
Design Team • October 27, 2015
What is an oil line heater and why is it critical to the smooth operations of oil field equipment? Oil field equipment can become jammed through hydrate formation, which generally occurs more in colder temperatures. Oil line heaters will heat the line so that hydrates do not develop, thereby keeping operations moving swiftly. Oil line heaters are of particular importance in areas that have harsher weather.
THE DANGER OF HYDRATE FORMATION
Hydrates will form in high pressure, low temperature environments. They are extremely similar to ice, but are composed of a mix of gas and minerals that are found naturally within the oil line fluids. Hydrates can be dangerous because they can plug the lines, leading to a build up in pressure and reduced efficiency. Should the pressure build up too significantly, it could potentially lead to a line failure. There are very few ways to prevent against hydrates except for heating solutions and altering the fluid composition itself. Solid hydrate plugs often need to be either chemically or manually extracted, slowing down production and costing time.
HOW OIL LINE HEATERS FUNCTION
Oil line heaters reduce the chances of hydrate formation by pumping oil field liquids into the heater and then running them through heated coils. The now heated liquids are returned to the production environment, thereby vastly reducing the chances that they will experience a hydrate blockage. And hydrate blockages are not the only issue that can occur in oil field fluids. The fluids can also become more viscous due to waxes and other infiltrates, which condense and collect in colder temperatures. Warming these liquids will offer an improved flow, which will improve the efficiency of the machines.
CHOOSING AN OIL LINE HEATER
Oil line heaters generally come in two primary models: upstream and downstream. Upstream models are naturally capable of producing greater pressure, whereas downstream models have low pressure coils. A standard density oil line heater will usually have about 12 coils, whereas an ultra-high density heater will have 24 coils. The coils will indicate how much heating can be produced from the unit. Additional coils will also consume additional energy. For most applications a standard density oil line heater is sufficient. Many oil line heaters come with a warranty ranging from 12 months to 18 months, and they are usually extremely affordable compared to other oil field assets.
Oil line heaters are essential oil field equipment for any area that may have issues with hydrate plugs. They come in pre-assembled packages, are easy to set up, and will make sure that the process temperature of upstream and downstream equipment remains within acceptable parameters. For the cost of an oil line heater, oil and gas companies will be able to achieve increased efficiency and worry-free performance.
Subscribe to Email Updates
Recent Post
A new project in development in Oman may be able to revolutionize the way that people think about solar energy and oil and gas. The Miraah project currently being developed will use solar power in order to produce oil, thereby reducing the amount of natural gas Oman residences will need to rely upon. Ideally, the Miraah project will be able to address many of the outstanding issues with solar technology related to energy capture, while creating a more efficient and effective method of oil production.
Xodus Group, an international group of energy consultants, has now completed the first stage of its multiphase flow research project , and is now entering the second. Multiphase flow is designed to research, simulate, and predict how dynamic forces act within the piping that is commonly used throughout the oil and gas industry, for a better understanding of the technology's potential improvements.
Reports have revealed that two-thirds of the natural gas in the United States are now coming from fracking , thanks to the extensive shale gas resources and the proliferation of unconventional drilling throughout the country. Natural gas is increasingly being used throughout the globe as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to goal, and the domestic energy markets are seeing a significant reduction in utility costs.
As the oil and gas industry has been hard at work decreasing its oil production costs, the oil transportation industry has been similarly engaged. The need for oil transportation on a national and global level has been increasing alongside the need for oil throughout the world. As oil production ramps up in the United States, the old oil transportation methods have become insufficient and inefficient for the new volume of materials that need to be moved. New technologies are presently being developed to make it easier and faster to transport oil, thereby reducing overhead for the industry as a whole.
The Gulf of Mexico has been steadily increasing its oil production despite concerns regarding plummeting oil prices. In fact, production has increased enough that the Gulf of Mexico is expected to reach a record high in 2017 . Many oil production companies and unconventional drillers have increased production throughout the United States rather than slowing down. Despite this, oil and gas remains a big and booming business.
