Overview - Hydraulics in Oil and Gas

A hydraulic jack is the most useful device that finds use in many applications. Automotive systems’ brakes and windows use hydraulic power for smooth and swift operation.

Several devices and systems that require high motive power in the oil and Gas domain use hydraulic power. Some of them are:

·???????Blow out preventer.

·???????Sub Surface Valves

·???????Top side Valves

·???????Emergency Shutdown System and Valves

·???????Turret actuated System & disconnect Valves.

·???????Ballast Control valve

·???????Subsea Control Valves

·???????Barrier Fluid Valves

·???????Testing & Flushing Units

·???????Topside Umbilical Termination Unit

A simple hydraulic system consisting of a prime mover (usually an electric motor, diesel engine, or gas engine), pump, lines, control valves, actuators, and liquid hydraulic fluid cannot store energy. The prime mover must continually operate to keep the system energized.

Besides, a special device called Accumulator plays an important role by storing energy (in the form of Hydro-Pneumatic) under pressure, so that the same can be used to actuate a final control element, whenever needed.

Hydraulic Power Units with built-in redundancies for pumps, with high availability, are used to operate safety critical equipment. The such unit develops pressures as high as 20,000 psig.

HPUs become handy in remotely located facilities where High Voltages Electric Supply is not available and cannot produce mechanical effort using LV electric motors. Besides, HPUs can

·???????open/close or start/stop the final control element under load.

·???????operate in harsh environments and ?

·???????produce high torque in small packages.

Under stalled conditions, electrical actuators draw a heavy current, almost equivalent to starting current. In contrast, hydraulic-powered actuators can pressurize the system and hold the pressure to keep the final control element by a suitable valve.

The downsides of hydraulically powered systems are:

·???????High CAPEX

·???????High OPEX

·???????Frequent Maintenance &

·???????Noisy operation