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Electrical Enclosures in the Oil & Gas Industry: Technologies and Certifications

27 June 2023
Electrical Enclosures in the Oil & Gas Industry: Technologies and Certifications

The Oil & Gas value chain is mainly composed of companies that extract and refine hydrocarbons, produce energy, transport it and distribute it, but it does not stop there.

The Oil & Gas value chain consists of three stages:

  • The upstream, related to exploration and production activities;
  • The midstream, which includes transportation to processing and consumption markets;
  • The downstream, which includes oil refining and the distribution of gas and refined products.

The entire process is made possible thanks to many companies that manufacture components and machinery for the sector; these include manufacturers of electrical enclosures.

A STEP BACK: WHAT ARE HYDROCARBONS?​

Centuries have passed since coal was the fuel of the industrial revolution, later replaced by hydrocarbons, first and foremost oil, which formed the basis on which modern industrial civilisation developed.

In a nutshell and simplifying a little, hydrocarbons are mixtures of compounds formed by hydrogen and carbon, which can be found in nature in a solid (asphalts and bitumen), liquid (oil) and gaseous (methane) state. They originate through long geochemical processes, which end up forming deposits.

Hydrocarbon molecules form the basis of industrial organic chemistry and petrochemistry, which provides fundamental products for many sectors (plastics, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, etc.).  

They are non-renewable resources, since the quantity available is intrinsic to geological events of the past, a factor that makes one understand the reasons for the widespread concerns about the amount of resources (especially oil and natural gas) that are still usable.

CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES

The processes involved in the production and distribution of oil and natural gas are elaborate, involve many players and require the most cutting-edge technologies available on the market, both to ensure maximum safety and to optimise costs for each player.

The players in the oil and gas industry demand high standards in terms of safety and profitability. The added value is to enable the plant manufacturer to ensure safe and efficient production while keeping costs down.

  • The oil industry involves all those companies specialising in the production, distribution and processing of oil and its derivatives, such as pipelines and refineries. In these areas there are numerous hydraulic components in the mammoth flotation systems used for oil extraction, such as pipes, cylinders, valves, fittings, flanges.
  • The Gas industry, on the other hand, includes specialised electrical transformer substations, motor control and automation panels, and other highly specialised machinery, specifically dedicated to industries involved in the production and distribution of gas, such as gas pipelines.

Whether in onshore (onshore) or offshore (offshore) installations, the role of the stainless steel electrical enclosure is to protect components that are essential for safeguarding the entire plant, especially in the event of malfunctions, such as safety valves and suction cups for handling.

CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED IN THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY

If production processes involve flammable liquids, gases, aerosols or combustible dusts, as is the case in the Oil & Gas sector, companies are required to certify their products according to ATEX, a regulation that aims to minimise or prevent explosions in these locations.

If machinery or components are destined for EU countries or if equipment is intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, it is therefore necessary to certify it according to the ATEX Directive.

Specifically, ATEX certification is essential for electrical enclosures intended for use in areas with potentially explosive atmospheres, such as refineries, offshore platforms and other oil & gas installations.

The term 'ATEX' comes from the French name of the 2003 Directive: les appareils et les systèmes de protection destinés à être utilisés en ATmosphères EXplosibles. It covers both the machinery or equipment intended for use in these environments, and the rules for managing the general environment of these workplaces.

 

ATEX CERTIFICATION

ATEX certification includes different categories and classification zones that define the hazard levels of the environment and the necessary protective measures.

  • ZONE 1: an area in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of air and flammable substances in the form of gas, vapour and mist is likely to occur during normal activities.
  • ZONE 21: A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a cloud of combustible dust in air is likely to occur in normal operation.
  • ZONE 2: A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of air and flammable substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, is of short duration only.
  • ZONE 22: An area in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of air and flammable substances in the form of combustible dust is not likely to occur in normal operation and, if it does occur, will only be of short duration. 

 

IRINOX electrical enclosures conforming to ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU are:

ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES FOR THE OIL & GAS SECTOR

Providing solutions for the oil and gas, petrochemical, refining and power generation sectors is a complex business that requires a great deal of experience, expertise and precision.

In most cases, oil extraction plant designs are made to the customer's specific requirements, and this is also reflected in the electrical enclosures, which in large numbers are customised in various respects.

The requirement can be either for the installation of electrical enclosures for a new plant, or for an upgrade of existing structures. The requirement usually concerns the material, which is usually AISI 316L stainless steel (which has a low carbon content responsible for rust formation), more resistant to external agents than 304. An increased thickness of up to 3 mm is also usually required.

It may also be requested of the manufacturer that the electrical enclosure undergo a specific painting cycle as a further form of protection against potentially aggressive agents.

When it comes to particularly aggressive weather conditions such as strong winds (such as some railway or motorway tunnels), there is also the possibility of specific testing to ensure that the enclosure is hurricane-resistant.

IRINOX ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES FOR OIL&GAS

In aggiunta a modelli specifici di quadri elettrici pensati per soddisfare le esigenze dei clienti che operano nel settore Oil & Gas, IRINOX è in grado di fornire un supporto completo anche con la realizzazione di supporti personalizzati in acciaio inox per installare correttamente le casse, cassette e armadi nel sito specifico, come piedistalli e console.

In addition to specific models of electrical enclosures designed to meet the needs of customers operating in the Oil & Gas sector, IRINOX can also provide complete support with the creation of customised stainless steel supports to properly install the enclosures, boxes and cabinets at the specific site, such as pedestals and consoles.

ADN TERMINAL BOX

ADN terminal box in AISI 304L stainless steel, ideal for use in the most demanding industrial sectors, such as Oil & Gas, thanks to the positioning of the gasket inside the lid, which allows it to be exposed to even the most aggressive and harsh environments. It comes standard with an additional o-ring kit in NBR, resistant to hydrocarbons, for use on applications in harsh environments.

As standard, it can be ordered with IP67, IP69K degree of protection and UL certification, and Atex can also be supplied on request. You can choose to make the box in AISI 316L stainless steel.

APN PUSH BUTTON BOX

The APN push button box in AISI 304L stainless steel has the same features as the terminal box version, which makes it a natural fit for the Oil & Gas sector. It is equipped with an o-ring kit for securing the lid screws that exceeds the requirements of the food industry's regulatory standards, but also has an additional kit for use in applications in an environment exposed to hydrocarbons.

As standard, it can be ordered with IP67, IP69K degree of protection and UL certification, and Atex is also available on request. You can choose to make the box in AISI 316L stainless steel.

AS COMPACT CABINET

The AS compact cabinet in AISI 304L stainless steel is equipped with a polyurethane gasket, a material suitable for use in harsh environments such as near oil stations. The single door model is supplied with Atex certification on request.

You can choose to make the cabinet in AISI 316L stainless steel.