Pressure and Temperature Gauge Usage in The Oil and Gas Industry

Oil and Gas companies face many technical challenges to extract, transport and refine natural raw materials. Safety is always of the utmost importance considering how flammable oil and gas is, therefore having reliable, accurate and cost effective measuring instruments is essential in the effective running of the process operation. Regulatory compliance also has to be strictly adhered to, to maintain accuracy and safety within the drilling, transporting or refining phases.

The most common instruments found throughout the Oil and Gas process are pressure and temperature gauges. There are many types of gauges but they are generally narrowed down to either analogue or digital. They can further be narrowed down by their working principle or their usage.

Within each phase of the process, specific gauges need to be used. Listed below are examples of the types of gauges typically used in each phase:

Drilling/Offshore (Upstream)

One of the most commonly used pressure gauges in the drilling industry are standpipe pressure gauges. These are typically used for standpipes, choke manifolds, pump trucks and mud pumps. They are highly accurate and durable and have a built-in damping mechanism to give an accurate reading even if there is a small pressure change.

Another common gauge is the single pointer pressure gauge which is used to indicate pump pressure and can also be used in a wide variety of applications. They are both reliable and accurate and can measure pressures up to 1,000 bar (15,000 psi).

Gas filled thermometers are frequently used in offshore applications and are designed for the harshest of environments. Budenberg model NIS is especially suitable for places where the presence of Mercury is undesirable and where the atmosphere is corrosive and severe due to the weather. Budenbergs rigid stem, vertical, bottom entry thermometer is also the obvious choice for offshore applications, where Mercury is not acceptable.

Gas Filled Thermometer
Model: 95FG-211FG-212G

Gas Filled Expansion Thermometer
Model: 32G-33G-34G-54G

Pressure gauges are also used for critical measurement applications such as Drill Floor equipment and Well Control Equipment (WCE). These gauges provide essential readback information on volume measurement and pressure.

Primarily designed for the harshest of offshore Oil and Gas environments, Budenbergs SUPASAFE pressure gauge with safety pattern and monel wetted parts provides a cost effective solution within the process industry. It is the ideal ‘standard’ choice for companies looking to benefit from a stock and range rationalisation.

To stop toxic media entering a pressure gauge diaphragm seals are used. Budenbergs diaphragm seal gauges incorporate certain safety features that significantly reduce the risk of the process media escaping to the atmosphere, including high overload, pressure lock off, exotic materials for sour gas applications.

Diaphragm Seals
Model: 254/CFN/CSE/WSE

Process Gauge - SUPASAFE
Model: 966MGP

Transportation and Storage of Oil and Gas (Midstream)

Typical methods of moving oil from the wellhead to the refinery may include tankers, barges, pipelines, railways and lorries. Natural gas is typically transported by pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers.

Within all the methods to transport oil and gas, safety is paramount. Having reliable pressure gauges increases safety, limits accidents, minimises downtime and saves money.

Storage of Oil and Gas either in subsea tanks, land based tanks or underground (Gas) requires careful monitoring.

To monitor the level and pressures within a storage tank differential pressure gauges are used. Budenbergs M24 range of Differential Pressure Gauges have been designed for applications which require the measurement of low differential pressures whilst accommodating very high static pressures.

Bellows Type Differential Pressure Gauge
Model: M24

Cryogenic DBB valves
Temperature ranges from -196 up to 350°C

Refineries (Downstream)

Within the refinery process there is a need to monitor high pressures and temperatures, this could be from distillation and fractionation to hydrocracking and process treatment. Temperatures may have to use a thermocouple to accurately measure temperatures within a combustion furnace where temperatures could range from 0 to 1,260 °C

Processes such as LNG and Condensed Natural Gas (CNG) require reliable measurement instruments. This may involve monitoring operations for refrigeration, treatment (condensation/dehydration) or liquefaction.

Other methods of production also require careful monitoring such as biodiesel and ethanol production. Accurate measuring instruments provide safer and more efficient processing for operations such as milling, fermentation and transesterification.

Pressure measuring instruments are used widely in the petrochemical industry for the production of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, aromatics, olefins, and detergents. Due to the special nature of the petrochemical industry in the manufacture of chemical products, Budenberg can provide a suitable product to meet the severity of the application. Budenberg bourdon tube and diaphragm seal gauges are installed worldwide and include special features such as DMC (fire retardant certified) plastic case which enjoys greater longevity in the harsh corrosive environments associated with this industry.

Budenberg Pressure, Temperature and Calibration equipment has been the industry standard in Oil and Gas for many years and is one of most globally familiar and reliable brands. Budenberg instruments and valves are used throughout the onshore and offshore markets and a wide range of options are available, both in build specification and materials of construction. There is also a range of ‘off the shelf’ process gauges and valves to help you avoid any downtime.

Just some of the products available from Budenberg for the oil and gas industry include:

Typical materials used to manufacture our units include:

Users are safe in the knowledge that a Budenberg instrument will provide many years of trouble free service, backed up by their robust warranty and excellent customer service.

For further information on pressure gauges, temperature gauges, valves or calibration instruments, please contact the Budenberg Technical Team.