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The Role of Cranes in the Oil and Gas Industry

The US is one of the world’s largest crude oil and gas producers, and the country’s oil and gas industry is valued at 110.7 billion dollars. It produced over 17 million oil barrels per day in 2019 and around the same quantity in the following years.

But wait, how does our O&G industry produce and rig oil and natural gas at such a significant level?

The answer lies in the country’s professional workers and highly advanced crane equipment.

Cranes are vital and indispensable machines for oil and gas companies. They ensure speedy rigging procedures without compromising project timelines and product quality. Crane Warning Systems Atlanta understands that crane safety is extremely important for oil and gas companies. That’s why we offer a wide range of high-end crane safety products, such as ATB systems and load moment indicators, to help you maximize crane safety.

Let’s dig deeper and uncover the role of cranes in the US oil and gas sector.


Oil Rigs

Cranes are installed at oil rigs for faster, safer, and easier oil rigging. They’re also a critical component of gas extraction units where barrels and compressed gas containers need safe moving equipment. Lattice boom and overhead cranes are the two most common types of cranes used at oil and gas rigging facilities.



An oil rigging unit in the sea

Rigs are either offshore or onshore. Cranes can be deployed at both of them to lift heavy equipment, rigged material, debris, and supplies. Cranes are also impeccable at moving sea vessels, rig flooring patches, and backloading supplies.


Gas Purification Centers

Cranes are also used at gas purification and compression centers. They help in protecting gas containers from hazardous exposures during import and export. Cranes perform daily barrel management and movement tasks allowing facility workers to safely transport flammable gas containers.


Shipping Ports

The US oil and gas sector exports approx. 8.63 million barrels per day. There are several shipping ports that require massive and highly efficient crane equipment for loading operations.

Gantry cranes are used at shipping and export facilities for putting bulky items together, loading and unloading cargo items, and moving oil barrels from one unit to another. Shipping ports and oil barrel management require various types of heavy machines to move the goods. They utilize truck-mounted, rough-terrain, crawler, and floating cranes, among more.


Engineered Transportation

Cranes aren’t about material handling only. They also work as a custom-curated transport medium for oil and gas industry workers. Sometimes, a rigging unit or an onshore site is so difficult to navigate that workers need heavy-duty transport systems.

That’s where cranes step up. Rail-mounted cranes are often used as an employee transportation medium at oil and gas rigging facilities.

Modern-day oil and gas companies use more than just regular gantry and lattice boom cranes. Some of the most innovative rigging and material movement cranes used by global O&G giants include:

  • Knuckle boom cranes

  • Mast cranes

  • Around-the-leg cranes

  • Ram Luffing cranes

  • Slew-bearing offshore cranes


How Can Crane Warning Systems Atlanta Help You?

At Crane Warning Systems Atlanta, we are all about maximizing crane safety and crane operators’ wellbeing. Our team is dedicated to offering the most well-rounded, high-quality set of products that includes RCI, LMI, and crane wind speed indicators.

You can explore our website to access troubleshooting guides and wiring diagrams. Contact us now to learn more, or place an order for RaycoWylie crane safety products right away!

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