Robust and long-lasting, Danfoss pressure and temperature controls play an important role in the oil and gas fields of the southeastern United States. Recently, the controls have gained popularity in a new process in the north – shale gas extraction.
When people think of the U.S. oil and gas industry, they often picture the wide expanses of Texas and Oklahoma. However, recent breakthroughs in drilling technology have created a gas boom in the shale-rich areas of the northern and eastern parts of the country. Danfoss components have been helping to increase production, save energy, and reduce costs in the conventional oil and gas industry for many years. And now, Danfoss pressure and temperature controls are helping extract the gas trapped in shale deposits in a high-pressure process known as fracking.
High Performance in Harsh Environments
Once regarded as too difficult or costly to extract, shale gas now accounts for about a quarter of U.S. total gas production. To release the gas from the shale layers deep underground, a process known as hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – pumps water and chemicals into the rock under high pressure. And Danfoss components are helping control processes in the well stimulation equipment.
Designed for harsh industrial environments, a range of MBS pressure transmitters are used to control the pump intake, lube oil, and filter pressure on the fracking trucks, as well as the pump suction and discharge lines of the blender trucks and hydrators. The robust MBT temperature sensors also monitor the hydraulic reservoir on the blender and fracking trucks, as well as the lube oil and radiator temperature.
Production is set to continue for many years at the massive Marcellus Shale field, which extends across four states in the northeast, while the Bakken Foundation in North Dakota and Montana is estimated to hold 10 billion barrels of oil – a 75-year supply. With a commitment to improve productivity and lower total costs, Danfoss is looking forward to supporting the U.S. shale gas industry for many years to come.
