3 Key Questions to Ask When Selecting Generator Sets for a Range of Oil and Gas Industry Applications

Posted by Jack Barry on Mon, Mar 24, 2014

Generator Sets for Oil and Gas Industry

If you’re managing an oil or gas facility, dependable and high-performing diesel generator sets are critical to your operation’s drilling and pumping uptime. Whether it serves as a primary or back-up power source, the potential industry uses for generator sets run the gamut from mud pumping to draw-works. But no matter which specific and how many applications you’re charged with overseeing, your ability to keep all of these operational functions up and running with a clean, consistent source of power is absolutely key to maintaining the bottom line and customer retention.

If you’re looking to add or replace generator sets to your oil or gas facility, ask yourself the following questions, which are relevant to almost any popular or niche application of diesel generator sets:

1. What is the environment that your generator set will be asked to perform in?

If you manage offshore drilling rigs, then you know just how treacherous the conditions are not just for the personnel you’re tasked with supervising, but for the equipment you need to protect as well. Volatile weather conditions combined with the perils of managing a truly remote location dictate that you ensure the generator sets bearing the load are rugged and durable. Specifically, you want to make sure any generator set you’re considering has a stiff base to ensure proper alignment of the alternator and engine. Additionally, look for a frame composed of high-strength, low-alloy steel. Standard structural steel lacks the tolerance to prevent distortion during less than ideal conditions.

2. How much fuel will you need?

Whether you’re looking to achieve optimal uptime for well servicing or fracturing, pay careful attention to a diesel generator set’s BSFC rating – a universal scale that allows you to compare fuel efficiency head to head. If you’re looking to power a drill rig or other machinery that requires always-on power, doing the math shows that even minimal differences in peak fuel efficiency can translate to thousands of dollars in diesel fuel savings very quickly. While more sporadic generator set use – especially for those generators purchased specifically for back-up power generation – these savings may not be that dramatic. That said, choppy use leads to quicker degradation of a generator set’s fuel efficiency.

3. What is your ability to properly maintain your generator sets?

Drilling and pumping operations are often located in hard-to-reach spots, which makes maintenance difficult. Extreme weather, tight quarters and off-the-grid locations often mean that what’s normally routine upkeep becomes hazardous, high-risk work. If you don’t have the resources to make this happen, this means you’ll likely have to contract out to a third party – another potentially high expense. Critical to the longevity of generator sets are regular oil changes. Best standards for oil and gas applications dictate that this happens every 250 hours or 10 days, but your specific utilization can impact these recommendations. Also be sure a qualified professional regularly inspects your engine and generator sets.

When purchased, installed and maintained with the right due diligence, diesel generator sets can reliably power your oil and gas operations whenever and wherever you need it. However, by failing to do the research or committing the necessary upkeep, you not only lose out on the incremental savings of optimal usage, but you jeopardize your sustainability of your entire operation.

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Tags: Diesel Generator Set, Generator Sets, Oil & Gas

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