The Oil & Gas Industry and its Extremely Challenging Operating Conditions

The oil and gas industry is one of the largest in the world and one of the greatest contributors to fueling the overall global economy, with energy and fuel costs as vital parameters for a wide variety of other industries. Moreover, non-fuel oil and gas outputs are key ingredients of other products such as asphalt, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, etc. From extraction to transportation, to refining and beyond, this industry has its workers perform in extremely challenging operating conditions and requires massive infrastructure and complex equipment.

The oil and gas industry is broken down into three segments:

Upstream Oil and Gas: Exploration and Extraction

“Upstream” refers to the different techniques used to extract oil and gas from the earth. This segment is also known as “E&P” (exploration and production) whereby firms find reservoirs, and drill oil and gas wells, making it high risk yet high reward. 

Midstream Oil and Gas: Transportation and Storage

This segment focuses on the transportation and storage of raw media from the well to the refineries. Oil and gas are generally transported long distances which is why working in this segment involves shipping, trucking, storage tank facilities, and, most of all, pipelines. Although extremely capital extensive to develop, the midstream segment is typically perceived as lower risk than the upstream.

Downstream Oil and Gas: Refining and Distribution

The downstream segment focuses on refining oil and gas into various intermediate and final products as well as sales and distribution. Refineries are companies responsible for removing impurities and converting oil and gas to products for the public such as gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil, diesel oil and fuel for electrical generation. At the same time, the refining process also creates intermediate chemicals used for making asphalts, plastics and synthetic materials, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and clothing. 

The oil and gas sector presents a complex and extreme operating environment exposing workers to a wide variety of hazards from high pressure, high temperature, wet and cold environments, dangerous chemicals, abrasions, cuts and impact injuries. 

Our Granberg? 6050 combine high chemical resistance and impact protection with the excellent grip needed by the user. Meanwhile, our waterproof Granberg? 9013 provide the highest cut protection according to EN 388:2016+A1:2018 (Level F), chemical resistance Type A according to EN 374:2016 with high-vis colour for added protection.

Since the discovery of North Sea oil in Norwegian waters during the late 1960s, exports of oil and gas have played a very important role in the economy of Norway.  Being the third largest exporter of natural gas in the world, Norway has been supplying around 20-25 per cent of the EU and UK gas demand. 

Last year marked the highest value of Norwegian petroleum production ever exported, around NOK 832 billion worth of crude oil, natural gas, NGL and condensate, and is expected to double this year, making the oil and gas sector a critical contributor to the Norwegian economy and financing the welfare state.

Granberg is a proud Norwegian company playing an important role in continuously driving growth in the oil and gas industry by advocating safety and hand protection for its users. Promoting our commitment to this advocacy, we recently participated in the ONS 2022 event held last month in Stavanger, Norway, where we showcased our innovations in hand protection aimed at supporting the Fearless Performance? journey of those working in the oil and gas industry as well as in the energy sector. From all-around tasks to high-risk hazards we have the hand protection to cover their needs.