Oil & Gas Processing Heat Transfer Fluids

Every industry requires unique fluids and lubricants to ensure that techniques and processes involved are completed accurately and effectively. For firms and facilities working in oil and gas production, this remains true. Expert lubricant makers such as Paratherm have developed heat transfer fluids that are expertly designed to aid operations where uniform precision heating is essential.

Thermal fluid heaters are commonly used to heat crude oil and to reduce lubricant viscosity to make pumping, as well as transporting, easier. These built-for-purpose heaters also facilitate several process heating applications like regeneration gas heating, dew point heating, and amine or glycol reboilers.

Thermal fluid is employed in oil and gas processing for many reasons. As non-corrosive products, thermal fluids provide more precise temperature control than other solutions.

Why use a thermal fluid in oil and gas processing?

There are multiple benefits to using thermal fluid in processing applications. For example, heaters using thermal fluids are 20 per cent more efficient than steam heaters and operate at lower pressures, making them safer while working at higher temperatures. Heaters using thermal fluids are also low maintenance and simple to operate, releasing fewer emissions – making them more environmentally friendly.

Finding the right heat transfer fluid for an application requires consulting your OEM (original equipment manufacturer)’s recommendation and understanding the unique challenges of your operation. Fluids are available from Paratherm for multiple applications, including petroleum and natural gas processing.

In natural gas processing, thermal fluid heaters are employed in amine-sweetening processes to extract sulphur from natural gas, while in the petroleum processing industry, hot oil systems control temperatures and heat processes in finished lubricant blending, recycling, fractionation and in liquid terminals.

What thermal fluid is best for my oil and gas application?

When selecting a thermal fluid, there are key points to consider. The fluid’s operating temperature range is key, as the wider the operating temperature range of the solution, the better temperature control it can provide.

What should I look for in a thermal fluid?

Thermal stability is critical and defines the fluid’s capacity to cope with high temperatures without degrading. Its specific heat capacity must also be considered, and the higher its heat capacity, the more heat the fluid can carry.

Last, but not least, viscosity is important. The lower viscosity the thermal fluid has, the easier it will circulate the system.

How do I maintain thermal fluids for oil and gas?

Careful maintenance is required to keep thermal fluids onsite safe, in top condition and to maximise their effectiveness. Thermal fluids should be stored indoors away from extreme temperatures and weather conditions. A preventative approach to maintenance and regular sampling of fluids in active use is always advised to assess their condition and quality. Routine testing can identify signs of fluid degradation that can be remedied swiftly before they result in unwanted performance issues.

Oil and gas processing heat transfer fluids created by Paratherm are widely used in multiple gas and oil production techniques. For instance, processes that are temperature-sensitive, such as high-efficiency distillation and amine regeneration, are both well served by Paratherm’s cutting-edge fluids, which offer responsive temperature control for vital process operations.

Paratherm’s heat transfer fluids, technical services and system cleaning fluids are employed in petroleum refining operations and gas processing, used oil recycling and alternative fuels facilities, and are designed to handle the most intense refining and distillation applications.

If your operation needs oil and gas processing heat transfer fluids like those formulated by Paratherm, you can always count on our expert team here at Oil Store. Examine our selection of specialist heat transfer fluids below or get in contact with us if you require further details on a particular product.