Catco Control, released in 2021, was developed as a total automation solution. But what if you don’t have the need or want the complexity of full automation? If you’d like the peace of mind of knowing whether your heaters are working without physically checking on them, Catco Status is here. Introducing Catco Status Catco Status is a small device that will make a big impact on your cold-weather readiness. The...
read moreThe Joule-Thomson Effect: What is it?
The oil and gas industry moves huge amounts of fuel around the U.S. in more than 2.6 million miles 0f pipelines. Disrupting these movements with frozen valves results in costly scenarios for operators. How do these frozen valves occur? There are various situations where a control valve can freeze over, but one of the most common ones is due to the Joule-Thomson effect. So what is the Joule-Thomson effect and how...
read moreWhat are Heated Enclosure Packages?
Heated enclosure packages are the most efficient form of freeze-prevention in the market. This is because they are built to directly heat a valve or regulator in order to prevent freezing. Catco has developed a wide range of heated enclosure packages that are used throughout the oil and gas industry. The reason for developing this range of heated enclosures is that, in oil and gas applications, any valve or regulator...
read moreCatco History: From Seed to Success
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....
read moreHazardous Area Classification in Oil and Gas
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...
read morePrevent Frozen Production and Increase Productivity with Catalytic Heaters
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...
read moreCatalytic Heaters: We Won’t Leave You Out in the Cold
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...
read moreCatalytic Heaters for Oil and Gas Equipment
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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