he value chain of the oil and gas industry is mainly composed of three links: Upstream, Midstream and Downstream.
In today's article, we will analyze the activities that are carried out at the upstream level, the extreme conditions to which their infrastructures are subjected, and the maintenance they require.
What is "Upstream", "Midstream" and "Downstream"
The oil and gas industry is segmented into three main areas:
- Upstream
- Midstream
- Downstream
The Upstream focuses on the exploration and production of hydrocarbons, encompassing activities such as the search for deposits, drilling and extraction of oil and natural gas.
The Midstream involves the transportation, storage and marketing of the hydrocarbons produced.
Finally, the Downstream covers crude oil refining, natural gas processing, and distribution of by-products to end consumers.
What Operations Are Performed on the Upstream Side
Upstream operations are essential for obtaining hydrocarbons and include the following activities:
- Exploration: The use of geophysical and geological techniques to identify and evaluate potential oil and gas reserves.
- Drilling: Creation of wells to access underground deposits. Onshore and offshore platforms are used, depending on the location of the deposits.
- Production: Oil and gas extraction using specialized equipment and advanced techniques to maximize resource recovery.
- Reserve Evaluation: Analysis of the economic and technical viability of the discovered deposits, determining the amount of exploitable resources.
What deterioration frequently occurs in "Upstream" installations
Upstream facilities are exposed to extreme conditions and face several types of deterioration, including:
- Corrosion: Caused by exposure to salt water, corrosive gases such as H₂S and CO₂, and other chemicals.
- Mechanical wear: Due to abrasion and erosion due to the continuous flow of fluids and particles.
- Structural fatigue: Resulting from cyclic loading and pressure fluctuations, especially in offshore structures.
- Fouling: Mineral deposits that accumulate in pipes and equipment, reducing production efficiency.
- Leaks and gasket failures: Deterioration of seals and connections due to high pressure and harsh environmental conditions.
What maintenance and repair operations are carried out in the "Upstream" gas and oil facilities?
To ensure the operability and safety of upstream facilities, various maintenance and repair operations are implemented, such as:
- Regular Inspection and Monitoring: Use of advanced technologies such as drones, robots, and ultrasound techniques to detect problems at an early stage.
- Anticorrosive treatments: Application of special coatings and use of corrosion inhibitors to protect metal structures.
- Mechanical Repairs: Replacement and repair of worn or damaged components, including pumps, valves, and pipes.
- Predictive Maintenance: Implementation of real-time monitoring systems to predict and prevent failures before they occur.
- Cleaning and Descaling – Use of chemical and mechanical methods to remove deposits and maintain equipment efficiency.
- Pressure Testing and Certification: Performing pressure tests to ensure the integrity of wells and pipelines.
MRO solutions from a tool point of view in Upstream Offshore installations
From the point of view of the industrial tool, which is the part that corresponds to us, and taking into account the existing deterioration in this type of installation, we consider the following industrial tools to be used to be of vital importance:
- Non-sparking and ATEX tools: Vital, taking into account that these facilities are environments considered Explosive Atmospheres
- Antidrop® tools: Work at height is common in these facilities. Falling objects can not only damage the structure that is on the surface of evil, but can also cause severe damage to critical underwater infrastructure. And even worse, as we have seen in another post, causing the death of injured workers due to falling objects.
- Tools for underwater use: Essential to carry out maintenance and repair operations on underwater infrastructure that degrades due to corrosion.
- Pipe tools: Important for the maintenance processes of pipes affected by the deposit of materials and sediments in them.
Download our leaflet of sectoral solutions aimed at the Oil & Gas sector
The environments in which offshore facilities operate are harsh, which over time generates a deterioration, and therefore increases, both the occupational risks of the operators who work in them, as well as the loss of efficiency and the significant increase in financial costs.
Good maintenance means better safety for workers, as well as an improvement in profitability and performance for the organization that manages offshore facilities.
Dive deeper into our solutions and contact our experts for advice.