What does this mean? The oil and gas investors should employ clear measures to maximize on the rising demand. One way to do this is by investing more in the construction of wells for gas and oil products.
As an investor, you’ll need to engage a competent engineer to help you design and construct these wells. The engineer should be knowledgeable about any and all relevant laws and regulations. They should also advise you on the need to utilize a standardized wellhead design.
Do you know what a wellhead is? It’s the structure you place above your well to connect the tubing to the pipeline. It uses tubing hangers to contain pressure in your well, thus preventing collapse. The tubing hangers also play a vital role in sealing the well.
Why Does Your Wellhead need Valves and Tubing Hangers?
The oil and gas valves play a vital role in maintaining pressure and regulating the flow. As such, you need a competent engineer who knows more about tubing hangers and different types of valves. Let them explain to you the different types of valves and their functions, like how we've outlined below. Here is a list of the most common valves and the reason for their existence.
The Ball Valve: Ball valves are common in oil, liquids and gas industries. The users love them due to their ease of turning on and off. Further, the valve has a tight sealing with very low torque. They operate using a quarter-turn rotational motion that uses a ball-shaped disc to control movement. Once you open the valve, the holes in the ball align with the body’s inlet thus allowing the oil and gas to pass. Manufacturers use several metals to manufacture these balls while they use softer materials for seats. This combination of materials allows the ball valves to operate at extremely low or high temperature.
Gate Valves: The design of a gate valve allows it to either start or stop the flow of oil and gas. In most cases, you use this valve when you need a minimum flow restriction. In service, gate valves are either kept open or closed all the time. Opening this valve removes the gate disc allowing the content to pass through. It is bidirectional and boasts of high shut-off properties. However, they don’t open or close quickly. The gate valves are highly sensitive to vibration when you open them.
Butterfly Valves: Butterfly valves, like ball valves, are designed to be a quarter-turn rotational valve. The oil and gas industries use this valve to start, stop and regulate the contents that flow through the pipeline. The valve is easy and fast to open, it also comes with a gearbox allowing you to connect the hand wheel by gear to its stem. The presence of a gearbox makes its operation easier but slow. You’re also required to install the butterfly valves at a minimum of 6 pipe diameters from the line elements. Other than being lightweight, and easier to use, they’re also available in small or large sizes. With this, the valve can cope with declining pressure and its high recovery.
The demand for oil and gas products is rising. Thus, investing in this industry is a viable financial decision. You only need to ensure you get everything right from the start. For instance, do you know what a wellhead is? What are the different types of valves and tubing hangers that you can use in this industry? Take care and ensure you’re only using the right valve to meet your business goals. Don’t shy away from seeking advice from an engineer who is knowledgeable in this field. That’s how you’ll get value for your investment.
The demand for oil has experienced all-time high during the past decade. Statistics show that this consumption will rise to 109 million barrels by 2035, from 89 million barrels in 2012.