How do You Select an Industrial Cable for Oil and Gas?
Oil and gas environments are very demanding when it comes to cable installations. The conditions may be harsh and you find that the cables are subjected to damaging elements such as heat and oil substances. Other elements that may be present include moisture and salt. In choosing a cable for gas and oil projects, you want to ensure it can meet the challenge. Here are steps to help you select the right cable for the oil and gas environments:
Check the cable jacket
The insulation may determine how the cable is going to be protected from the damaging elements. If you are choosing insulation for harsh environments, you can go for PVC or PVC nylon. For environments that are a bit harsher, you can go with XLPE insulation, which also may be used in the harshest environments.
Level of oil resistance
The environment is called oil and gas because it involves projects for exploring and extraction of oil and gas. So, if you’re going to select a cable with the right oil resistance, you need to consider the insulation. For example, if there will be periodic oil exposure, you can go with a cable that has a jacketing rated UL Oil Resistant 1 and if there will be frequent oil exposure, consider UL Oil Resistant 2. For just the infrequent light splashes of oil, you can just think of an oil resistant jacket.
The cable types
In oil and gas applications, you will find the commonest used cables are VDF, Ethernet, and Control and instrumentationcables. So, for the Ethernet, if you will have longer distances, choose fiber rather than copper. Also for data rates of 1GB and more, you also need fiber. If you are distributing power, then copper cables may be appropriate.
There are also Ethernet cables made of copper that can work for shorter distances and lower data rates. You can also opt for bonded pair cables which resist the rigors of installation. These use a cable pair bonding on the insulation to ensure no gaps develops in between conductor pairs. Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are used in motor systems that pump or refine gas and oil. So, with VFD cable, you will need proper shielding of the cable.
Belden’s HaloarrestXLink LSZH-Jacketed 600V instrumentation, control and VFD cables are designed to meet some of the challenges witnessed with oil and gas cables. They are reliable and safe for use in offshore platforms, commercial shipbuilders, and equipment suppliers. These cables have low smoke zero halogen feature on their jacket to ensure safety of people and crew.
The cables maintain toughness in their physical properties thus they can withstand the harshest offshore environments. Another thing is that HaloarrestXLink LSZH-Jacketed 600V instrumentation, control and VFD cables have reduce purchasing costs.