What is a Catalytic Heater? Catalytic heaters are flameless heat sources resulting from the catalyzed chemical reactions that occur while breaking down molecules to produce heat, making them ideal for use in many hazardous environments. Hazardous environments of all kinds cannot risk flames. However, when the catalyst, oxygen, and fuel – such as natural gas or propane – combine, they ignite at low-enough temperatures (below 900°F) that they produce a...
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Catco has demonstrated throughout its history a philosophy of valuing straightforwardness and simplicity in a business. The business was once merely the seed of an idea: the pressing need for durable catalytic heaters that would be delivered as promptly as customers expected. Founder Bill Richards saw the gap in the market when colleagues complained to him about problems with their catalytic heaters. This inspired him to create Catco in 1982....
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Trends in the oil and gas industry are important to note in 2021. This is because an industry-wide shift is occurring – largely the result of a few key trends. Changes in technology have contributed to much of that development, but there are several other factors at play. These include changes within the workforce and a move to greater use of robotics. Navigating a global pandemic has added challenges and...
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What Is a Hazardous Location? A hazardous location is an area where there is a risk of an explosion due to the presence of an explosive mixture/atmosphere. For example, common elements that make these areas hazardous include ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers. These hazardous locations are classified by a system that analyzes and classifies the areas where explosion hazards may exist. This system provides...
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In as little as four years, the market for the IoT (Internet of Things) in oil and gas worldwide is set to reach $39.40 billion. The oil and gas industry has readily adopted IoT because of the large range of technological challenges organizations face in downstream, midstream, and upstream markets. Here are just a few of those challenges: Tracking assets and machinery Industrial control system management Maintaining pipes and wells...
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In the oil and gas industry, often, your equipment is subject to harsh conditions. That can mean extremely cold temperatures, or areas of high pressure, or places with poor gas quality. Many sites don’t have permanent power supplies, which limits heating solutions to unsafe, impractical, or expensive options. But you need to protect valves and regulators from freezing to avoid shutdowns and keep productivity high. How Do You Increase Productivity...
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Frozen valves and instruments on a remote site are a common and frustrating experience in the oil and gas industry. The downtime and loss of productivity that happens due to a freeze are even worse – you’re losing money every hour that your equipment isn’t working properly. Freezes don’t just happen due to low temperatures, though that’s certainly a common cause. Large pressure cuts also frequently freeze valves due to...
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How can you keep your valves, equipment, and even your people from freezing in tough conditions on a remote site? Even in less-harsh conditions, large pressure cuts and wet gas can cause freezes. Resulting in shutdowns, which cause a serious loss of revenue. But there’s a better option than simply hoping things don’t freeze (the plan of many oil and gas sites we’ve seen) or a hastily installed patchwork of...
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