Maintenance and repair activities at upstream oil and gas facilities

The oil and gas industry value chain mainly consists of three links: Upstream, Midstream and Downstream.

In today's article, we will analyze the activities carried out at the upstream level, the harsh conditions their infrastructure is subjected to, and the maintenance they require.

What are "Upstream", "Midstream" and "Downstream"?
The oil and gas industry is divided into three main sectors:

• Upstream: Upstream focuses on the exploration and production of hydrocarbons, including activities such as finding deposits, drilling, and extracting oil and natural gas.
• Midstream: Midstream involves the transportation, storage, and marketing of produced hydrocarbons.
• Downstream: Finally, Downstream includes crude oil refining, natural gas processing, and distribution of by-products to end consumers.
  
  

What activities are performed upstream:
Upstream activities are necessary to exploit hydrocarbons and include the following activities:

• Exploration: Using geophysical and geological techniques to identify and evaluate potential oil and gas reserves.
• Drilling: Creating wells to reach underground deposits. Onshore and offshore rigs are used, depending on the location of the deposits.
• Production: Extraction of oil and gas using specialized equipment and advanced techniques to maximize resource recovery.
• Reserves assessment: Analyzing the economic and technical viability of discovered deposits, determining the amount of exploitable resources.

What degradation typically occurs in "Upstream" facilities?
Upstream facilities are subject to harsh conditions and face several types of degradation, including:

• Corrosion: Due to contact with salt water, corrosive gases such as H₂S and CO₂ and other chemicals.
• Mechanical wear: Due to abrasion and erosion due to continuous flow of liquid and particles.
• Structural fatigue: Due to cyclic loading and pressure fluctuations, especially in offshore structures.
• Fouling: Minerals build up in pipes and equipment, reducing production efficiency.
• Leaks and gasket failure: Damage to seals and connections due to high pressure and harsh environmental conditions.

What maintenance and repair activities are performed at "Upstream" gas and oil facilities?
To ensure the operational and safety of upstream facilities, various maintenance and repair activities are implemented, such as:

• Regular inspection and monitoring: Use advanced technologies such as drones, robots and ultrasound techniques to detect problems at an early stage.
• Anti-corrosion treatment: Apply special coating and use corrosion inhibitor to protect metal structures.
• Mechanical Repair: Replace and repair worn or damaged parts, including pumps, valves and piping.
• Predictive maintenance: Implement real-time monitoring systems to predict and prevent failures before they occur.
• Cleaning and Descaling - Use chemical and mechanical methods to remove scale and maintain equipment efficiency.
• Pressure Testing and Certification: Perform pressure testing to ensure well and pipeline integrity.

MRO solutions from a tool perspective in upstream offshore facilities:
From the point of view of the industrial tools, which are our respective departments, and taking into account the deterioration present in this type of installation, we consider the following industrial tools to be of vital importance:

• Non-sparking tools and ATEX : Important, considering that these facilities are considered to be Potentially Explosive Environments
• Antidrop® Tool: Working at height is a common occurrence at these facilities. Falling objects can not only damage structures above the surface, but can also cause serious damage to critical infrastructure underwater. And even worse, as we saw in another post, cause the deaths of workers injured by falling objects.

Learn about the Antidrop kits we have developed for maintenance operations at upstream facilities

• Underwater Tools: Essential for performing maintenance and repair operations on underwater infrastructure degraded by corrosion.
• Pipeline Tools: Important for pipeline maintenance procedures affected by material and sediment deposition in them.

Download our flyer on industry solutions aimed at the Oil and Gas industry

The environment in which offshore facilities operate is very harsh, which over time will cause deterioration and thus increase both the occupational risks of the operators working in them, as well as loss of efficiency and significantly increased financial costs.

Good maintenance means greater safety for workers, as well as improved profits and performance for the organization managing offshore facilities.

Learn more about our solutions and contact our experts for advice