Oil & Gas
Oil and natural gas are part of everyday life. Together, these fossil fuels represent 86 % of global energy demand. Products produced from oil and gas are used throughout the world as fuel (such as gasoline and diesel fuel), or as building blocks for the petrochemical and chemical industries.
The process to extract, transport and refine oil and gas is complex and wrought with danger to workers and to assets. One of the most dangerous is the risk of fire or explosion due to the presence of flammable gases and liquids. Toxic gases and chemicals encountered throughout the processes add the risk of asphyxiation, burns, cancer and system corrosion.
To reduce the risks to life, property or the environment, oil and gas companies follow mandatory safety practices. Portable and fixed gas detection systems, and flame detection systems play a critical role in monitoring the environment for hazards. Respiratory or other safety gear can then be provided to workers to keep them safe.
The good news is that the oil and gas industry, as a result of understanding and addressing hazards through mandatory regulations, has fewer safety incidents today than in the past.
The oil and gas industry is typically divided into three major sectors:
Upstream
Searching for underground or underwater crude oil and natural gas fields by drilling and operating the wells that recover and bring the crude oil and/or raw natural gas to the surface. Upstream exploration and production can occur onshore or offshore. Shale gas & oil exploration are nowadays a very active part of this sector.
Midstream
The transportation (pipeline, rail, barge, oil tanker or truck) and storage of oil and gas from the well to the refinery or natural gas processing plant.
Downstream
The refining of crude oil and the processing and purifying of raw natural gas that produces petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, base for asphalt, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Often integrated in the downstream market are petrochemical plants that utilize the petroleum and gas products to produce Ethylene, Propylene, Benzene, Butadiene and other by products used by multiple types of industries.