Driving Operational Efficiency:
Fresh Insights to Increase Safety and Reduce Downtime

Worksite safety and operational efficiency are foundational elements of success in the oil and gas industry. Habitual maintenance practices underpin both in today’s oil patch. While training is essential, digital tools complement workers’ efforts to inform them about unseen issues that can force equipment offline.

Proper Protocols for Best Results

Proper training can have a direct, positive impact on efficiency gains. There are common misperceptions about training that many workers may believe. New crew members may feel that one quick training session is enough, while industry veterans may feel training isn’t necessary as they’ve worked on equipment for many years. In reality, both junior and seasoned workers require continuous training to ensure they follow best practices for regular maintenance routines to maximize efficiencies, create a safe environment and ensure the longevity of the equipment they handle.

In-person training sessions are immensely valuable, as personnel can ask skilled technicians questions in real-time to understand the best practices for operating a specific piece of equipment. Once the training session ends, however, that new knowledge can quickly fade. Easy-access reminders, such as flash cards or stickers on equipment, can refresh the information trainers imparted during a session. These visual cues help bring proper protocols to mind to ensure equipment is optimally operated and sustained.

Workers that have been in the oil field for several years may believe training isn’t applicable for them. However, training is needed for experienced personnel too. If the person who trained them on a pump years ago didn’t educate them on correct maintenance methods, they will continue to repeat the incorrect protocol they learned. Giving these seasoned professionals the information to perform a task the right way with the right tools and the right process will help improve operations.

Leveraging Technology

Preventative maintenance tools are especially helpful to workers, as they amplify their abilities to maintain the equipment for maximum performance and uptime, as catastrophic failures and downtime may be prevented. Sensors installed on equipment and the algorithms that interpret the data those sensors collect are invaluable. Digital solutions, such as the Cat® Pump Electronic Monitoring System (PEMS), observe the condition of a pump through sensors that are attached to both the fluid end and power end. Precise algorithms analyze the data the sensors collect and report failure modes and warnings about key issues such as cavitation and leaking.

A preventative maintenance plan can have an important impact on equipment longevity to produce greater operational efficiencies. Increased longevity can help boost uptime and lower total cost of ownership (TCO), impacting profitability and competitiveness. Investing a few minutes to adjust a pump based on PEMS recommendations ultimately saves money and time.

Review Protocols and Available Solutions to Maximize Efficiencies

Continuously reviewing and refining maintenance processes and the tools that support them fosters success in the oil field. Ensuring workers are trained to properly operate and maintain equipment is a crucial first step. Layering digitalized preventative maintenance solutions on workers’ manual efforts empowers them to extend the longevity of equipment while reducing costs and safety hazards to carve out greater efficiencies.

For more insights to help increase operational efficiencies, listen to The Energy Pipeline Podcast, visit https://www.cat.com/the-energy-pipeline.html