Tremendous amounts of innovation can be seen all throughout the intricate machinery of the oil and gas industry. The billion-dollar juggernaut of an industry propels the global economy forward in massive strides. Our daily lives are seamlessly intertwined with its workings, from the fuel that powers our vehicles to the myriad products derived from its processes. In order to ensure this industry and its complex equipment continue to operate at their optimal efficiency, maintenance emerges as connecting tissue.
Considering the equipment used in oil procurement, transportation, and refining face such extreme conditions, with temperatures soaring up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the need for maintenance cannot be understated. Despite these conditions, these cutting-edge machines, must not only endure but also operate efficiently and safely amid such formidable challenges.
To meet these demands, operators employ a variety of maintenance strategies. One such approach is preventive maintenance (PM), a methodical scheduling of upkeep tasks based on usage or elapsed time. This proactive stance aims to address potential issues before they escalate, preventing unplanned downtime and maintaining the machinery’s integrity. However, the reliance on manufacturer guidelines poses a challenge, risking either under- or over-maintenance if contextual factors are not adequately considered.
The alternative, predictive maintenance, is a refined evolution of PM designed to enhance operational efficiency. Equipping assets with condition-monitoring tools and empowering asset managers with cutting-edge industry techniques, this approach allows for meticulous monitoring and analysis. The result is the ability to predict an asset’s point of failure, facilitating timely repairs or replacements. Beyond cost-effectiveness, predictive maintenance minimizes maintenance frequency, steering clear of unplanned reactive measures and the ensuing equipment downtime.
As technology continues to advance, oil and gas companies are at the forefront of refining maintenance strategies. This ongoing improvement toward operational efficiency is also just as focused on safeguarding worker safety and protecting the environment from potential catastrophic failures.
For a more detailed look into the innovation surrounding equipment maintenance and be sure to spend a minute reading through the infographic supported alongside this post.
The Importance Of Equipment Reliability In The Oil & Gas Industry, provided by Smartcorr Systems, an industry leading chemical injection skid manufacturer