Your Ultimate Guide To Cables Used in Oil and Gas Industry
The oil and gas industry is one of the most demanding environments for wire and cable ever to exist. Here is Nassau National Cable's guide to wire and cable that meets all demands of this challenging industry.
What cables are used in the oil and gas industry?
VFD Cables
Variable Frequency Drive cables are used in motor systems and process control systems. These are some of the most common cables in oil and gas facilities. VFD cables used in oil and gas facilities are different from regular cables as they require shielding to be protected from electromagnetic interference.
Instrumentation and Control Cables
These cables help control the main processes in oil, gas, and petroleum facilities. Many subtypes are used, and they are mainly selected based on the properties of the jacket and insulation. Tray cables can be used as instrumentation and control cables in oil and gas facilities as long as they are oil-resistant and possess proper industrial ratings.
According to the structure, the cables used in oil and gas facilities vary. Some of the standard jackets are polyurethane and polyethylene. Cables can be armored and unarmored.
Power Cables
Power cables distribute power on different levels of oil and gas facilities.
- Low voltage LV cables (copper or aluminum). For use when voltage is up to 2KV.
- Medium voltage MV cables (copper or aluminum). For 2 kV- 33 kV voltage.
- High-voltage HV cables (copper or aluminum). For voltage 50 Kv and up.
Portable Power Cables
These cables are excellent for industrial equipment on oil and gas plants since they are resistant to oil and weather, flames, and sunlight and are suitable for outdoor use. SEOOW, SJEOOW, SOOW, SJOOW, SJTOW, and STOW are used.
Cables that are at the intersection of power and portable power cables common in oil and gas facilities are:
- Type G and Type G-GC cables are used in oil drilling platforms as they can be submerged in water for a long time.
- DLO Cable is also used in oil drilling rigs as it is resistant to oil, abrasion, and industrial grease.
- Type W cable is a plausible option for applications that border power and portable power.
Marine Wire
- Type P is a go-to cable for offshore drilling systems and petroleum facilities. It is a premium industrial cable that ticks all the boxes when it comes to oil and gas industry demands. It is resistant to oil, flames, chemicals, saltwater, and abrasion. Moreover, it has superior mechanical properties and an excellent temperature range. The cable is optionally armored and sheathed. It is in a premium price range due to its properties.
- Shipboard cables are used on the board of the ship. Type TPS shipboard cables are used on the board of oil rigs. Shipboard cables with low smoke zero halogen jackets are available. LSFHOF is an oil-resistant jacket used on the board of the ship.
Submersible Pump Cables
Type THW submersible pump cable is the best option for oil and gas submersible pumps and pipelines as it is rated for heavy-duty use.
Communication Cables
Communication cables used in oil and gas facilities can be fiber optics or standard copper ones. Copper data cables used in these facilities are mostly coaxial as they support long distances and possess excellent electromagnetic interference.
Fiber optic cables are used when proposed distances are 100 meters or longer and when data requires higher bandwidth (10 Gigabit Ethernet. etc.).
Factors that affect cable performance in the oil & gas industry
The oil and gas industry calls for sturdy cables that must be resistant to all types of influence, including industrial chemicals, oil, and acid. The cables must also be resistant to mud contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons and other chemical components. Finally, they should be resistant to fire and, in some cases, possess low-smoke properties.
Cables in the oil and gas industry are exposed to weather and the impact of sunlight. Oil and gas facilities operate in all types of climates. The cables have to be waterproof as they are often submerged in water. More often than not, it is saltwater that they are submerged in. Like in any industry, oil and gas cables are subjected to mechanical stress, which means they have to be resistant to mechanical impact, bending, and abrasion.
There are levels of resistance required for particular applications in the oil and gas industry: harsh resistance, harsher resistance, and the harshest resistance. In particular, there are various resistance levels to oil and sunlight depending on where precisely the cable is used. Some environments are similar to regular industrial settings; some expose wire and cable to harsh outdoor conditions and chemicals, while others are close to extreme. We will discuss it more precisely in a blog covering jacket materials for oil and gas cables.
Types Of Oil And Gas Infrastructure Where Industrial Cables Are Used
- Oil and Gas Processing Plants
- Petrochemical Facilities
- Drilling Systems (Offshore and Onshore)
- Refineries
- Submersible Pumps
- Pumplines
- Process Control Systems
