Oil and gas production encompasses all processes involved in the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from underground reservoirs and is divided into three main phases: upstream (exploration and production), midstream (transport and storage), and downstream (processing and marketing). Zeppelin Power Systems offers powerful drive solutions for the upstream and midstream phases.
Exploration, surveying, and drilling
First, geophysical and geological methods are used to investigate where oil and gas deposits may be located. Once a promising site is found, the drilling process begins. Specialized drilling rigs (drill towers) are set up to create a borehole in deep underground layers. After drilling is complete, the borehole is lined with steel pipes and sealed with cement to ensure stability. A wellhead is installed to enable pressure control and to establish the connection between the borehole and the production facilities. Drilling rigs and cementing plants require a lot of energy, which can be provided by our powerful Cat drilling drives. We can meet any requirement and deliver the drive suited to all conditions.
Extraction of the raw material
After drilling, the production phase begins, and the actual extraction of oil or gas starts. Initially, production is driven by the natural pressure of the reservoir, causing the oil to flow to the surface. When the pressure decreases, artificial lifting methods such as well stimulation with pumps and fracking – the injection of water, gas, or chemicals – are used to maintain the production flow. For gas fields, the gas is often transported directly via pipelines. Various pumping and compressor systems are employed for this purpose. In low-pressure oil fields, deep pumps are used to bring the oil to the surface. A commonly used pump is the horsehead pump (also known as a beam pump), which uses a mechanical lever to lift oil from deep reservoirs. For natural gas reservoirs, compressors are used to compress the gas under high pressure, preparing it for transport through pipelines. Our tailored drives also play a crucial role here, maintaining the efficiency of the extraction processes.
Well maintenance: Stimulation, repair, cleaning
After drilling and during production, well maintenance is crucial to ensure the long-term productivity of the reservoir. This includes stimulation techniques such as hydraulic fracturing to improve the flow of oil and gas, as well as regular cleaning and repair measures to remove blockages or deposits in the wellbore. We provide specifically tailored drive solutions that enable smooth execution of well maintenance, thus maintaining efficiency and production performance over the long term.
