Application - Oil and Gas  [ Return towards  Oil and Gas Applications  ]

Nitrogen gas is used primarily to ensure safe processes and maintain product quality.

Nitrogen gas is typically used for blanketing storage tanks. During shutdown periods, compressors, pipelines and reactors may be inerted to prevent equipment degradation.

Nitrogen gas can also be used for pressure transfer of products between storage vessels.

Nitrogen gas is also used to inert LNG Tankers (transport vessels).


Onsite nitrogen membrane units (Floxal™) and especially NPUs andAMSA Series Units best fit these applications.

The oil and gas industry’s capacity to find, extract and distribute hydrocarbon products to meet energy needs is continually improving. The application of seismic imagery has led to the development of new fields, often at depths that were inconceivable only a decade ago. As a result, the oil and gas industry has been able to reduce its costs, which has in turn benefited the energy consumer.
At Air Liquide, we have developed a range of unique technologies to help the upstream processing of oil and gas.

They include:

- Nitrogen production using membrane for under-balanced drilling:
High pressure nitrogen provides a low down-hole hydrostatic pressure. Mobile nitrogen membrane production units safely provide inert gas (95% N2) at 12 bar which can be boosted to the required pressure.

- Nitrogen production using membrane for enhanced oil recovery applications:
Nitrogen can be injected into existing wells to increase oil and/or gas recovery. Depending on the volumes and type of nitrogen required, it can be supplied either by large high pressure nitrogen production units (cryogenic technology) or by membrane modules using NPUs or AMSA Series systems. These units can also be used for coal bed methane production.

- Nitrogen membrane for offshore platforms:
 nitrogen membrane can be used to provide inerting nitrogen for use on offshore platforms. These membranes are highly selective in reducing power requirements, and since they can be very compact, they need only minimal plot space.