Oil production

Solutions for oil production

The needs of oil production plants vary as widely as the plants themselves, which can be found increasingly far afield. Today’s production involves challenging conditions like those in oil sands or deep seas, plus a growing range of processes, such as advanced oil recovery techniques.

As a result, profit margins are often tighter. Alfa Laval expertise and equipment can make the difference, creating viable options that remain cost-effective even as conditions change. Our separation solutions, thermal solutions and other offerings contribute to process reliability, economy and safety and help keep these processes trouble-free.

Explore Alfa Laval's solutions for oil and gas.

Broad, reliable and customizable application portfolio

Over years of working with oil production, Alfa Laval has become adept at delivering performance within footprint and integration constraints. Important at all times, these are critical in upgrade and conversion projects, for example from vessel to FPSO.

Our land-based and offshore solutions are fully tailored to the process and the conditions, ensuring easy implementation and lasting availability. In addition, we are always available for consultation, support and service – from start to finish.

Alfa Laval has a role in nearly every step of oil production, land-based and offshore. Our solutions move, heat, cool and clean, ensuring reliable, energy-efficient processes and total compliance with regulations.

From increasing process productivity to reducing environmental impact, we offer solutions that prove their value under the toughest demands and conditions, including equipment for:

Separation and stabilization

Removal of solids and water from crude oil is essential to achieve pipeline quality oil. For conventional solutions, Alfa Laval’s wide range of heat exchangers optimize the use of heat while minimizing both installation footprint and maintenance requirements.

Choosing an Alfa Laval OFX disc-stack centrifuge system is an alternative that simplifies the process. This solution saves space and provides constant separation performance without the excessive use of heat and chemicals.

Process heating and cooling

Optimal separation of the crude oil requires effective heating beforehand. Afterwards, the separated oil must be cooled down to be stabilized.

Alfa Laval gasketed plate heat exchangers offer a compact and robust solution for both processes, and are resistant to gas, sand and other impurities in the crude. Drawing on vast application experience, we configure the heating and cooling circuits to achieve the most effective reuse of process heat.

Click here to explore the next-generation gasketed plate heat exchangers.

Gas compression

Compressing gas to the pipeline or injection pressure is a demanding process. At every stage, Alfa Laval’s portfolio enables robust, cost-effective solutions based on the pressures, cooling medium and maintenance needs.

Land-based optimized solutions usually involve Alfa Laval finned tube or wet surface air-cooled heat exchangers. Offshore applications may involve Alfa Laval printed circuit heat exchangers, Olmi shell-and-tube heat exchangers, semi-welded plate heat exchangers or our extremely robust welded plate-and-shell heat exchangers, Alfa Laval DuroCore and