Blog - Air Compressors

Oil & Gas Applications: Did You Know How Compressed Air Powers the Industry?

 

Date: September 15, 2022
Author: Beckie Huntington

While renewable energy often dominates today’s headlines, the oil and gas industry remains a vital global sector. It employs millions of people worldwide and consumes millions of cubic feet per minute (CFM) of compressed air to power critical operations both onshore and offshore.

From drilling and well completion to refineries and transportation, compressed air is an essential tool that keeps the industry moving. In this article, we’ll simplify the complexities of oil and gas operations and highlight the key applications where Atmos Compressors play an important role.

Oil & Gas Basics: Upstream vs. Downstream

The industry is typically divided into upstream and downstream operations:

  • Upstream: Involves finding, extracting, drilling, producing, and shipping crude oil or natural gas.
  • Downstream: Focuses on refining crude into finished products such as fuels and petrochemicals—right down to the gasoline at your local station.

Offshore Applications of Compressed Air

Compressed air supports a wide range of offshore oil and gas operations, including:

  • Drilling
  • Well completion & testing
  • Refineries
  • Pipelines
  • Pigging (pipeline cleaning)
  • Dewatering

Onshore Applications of Compressed Air

Onshore facilities rely on Atmos Compressors for multiple processes such as:

  • Drilling operations
  • Well completion & testing
  • Refineries and pipelines
  • Pigging and dewatering
  • Nitrogen spreads and foam applications

Why Use Air-Powered Drilling?

Drill rigs can be powered by air compressors, diesel generators, or hydraulic motors. However, air compressors provide unique advantages:

  • They can be switched off when drilling is paused, saving energy.
  • Compressed air assists with cutting extraction, drill bit cooling, and winch drawback work.
  • Air drilling (using compressed air or nitrogen) enables faster drilling compared to mud-based methods.

Types of Drilling Techniques:

  • Air Drilling – Uses compressed air or nitrogen for cooling and lifting cuttings.
  • Underbalanced Drilling – Keeps wellbore pressure below hydrostatic head pressure, allowing oil to be produced while drilling.
  • Multipurpose Drilling – Used for oil, water, minerals, geothermal, onshore, and offshore operations.

Well Completion & Testing

Compressed air plays an important role in well completion by:

  • Connecting the reservoir to the surface
  • Providing conduits for stimulation treatments
  • Protecting reservoir integrity
  • Isolating producing zones
  • Enabling flow rate and pressure testing

Key Oil & Gas Applications of Atmos Compressors

Compressed air requirements vary widely depending on pressure and flow needs. Here are common examples of where Atmos Compressors are used:

  • Rig Air – Powers hoists, winches, clutch operations, and top-drive drilling systems
  • Bulk Air – Conveys dry cement and mud during drilling operations
  • Emergency Air – “Black start” or “dead ship” compressors provide backup power during shutdowns
  • Motion Compensation – Stabilizes drill strings against platform motion
  • Offshore Platforms – Supplies air for instruments, engine starters, hoisting, flare gas inerting, and well testing
  • Storage & Transportation – Provides nitrogen inerting for tanks, vessels, trucks, and trains
  • Gas Assist Lift – Boosts oil and gas production from wells
  • Refinery Shutdowns – Supplies temporary oil-lubricated and oil-free compressed air
  • Well Workovers – Uses nitrogen to revitalize underperforming wells
  • Coiled Tubing – Enables downhole monitoring, chemical injection, and cleaning operations
  • Fabric Maintenance – Supports ongoing site repairs and maintenance

 

 

 

 

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