The Key Role and Application Cases of Pressure Gauges in the Petroleum Project Industry

Summary of the petroleum project:In the complex processes of petroleum exploration and development, pressure gauges, as core instruments for monitoring pressure parameters, are like the "sphygmomanometers" of projects, safeguarding the safety and stability of production systems at all times. Whether it is the monitoring of high-pressure oil and gas wells on drilling platforms or pressure regulation in pipeline transportation, the accurate readings of pressure gauges are directly related to engineering efficiency and operational safety.

Real-time Monitoring by Wellhead Pressure Gauges on Drilling Platforms

Close-up of the wellhead device on a drilling platform, with a silver pressure gauge embedded in a red high-pressure valve group, the pointer pointing to 25 MPa, and the silhouette of the drilling rig and waves visible in the background).

(Panoramic view of the instrument panel in the control room of an oil transmission station, with multiple pressure gauges arranged in a matrix showing pressure values of different pipe sections, engineers recording data, and the screen displaying pressure trend curves.)

Pressure Regulation System at an Oil Transmission Station

Panoramic view of the instrument panel in the control room of an oil transmission station, with multiple pressure gauges arranged in a matrix showing pressure values of different pipe sections, engineers recording data, and the screen displaying pressure trend curves.

  Selection and Maintenance Points of Pressure Gauges 

Petroleum projects have stringent requirements for the corrosion resistance, high-temperature and high-pressure tolerance of pressure gauges. Stainless steel casings and copper alloy movements or stainless steel movements are usually selected.The most common materials are SS 304 or SS 316L. For applications with strong corrosive properties, SS 312 material should be used for the housing or connectors. The measuring range should cover 1.5-3 times the working pressure (e.g., 0-60 MPa range is commonly used for wellhead pressure gauges). In daily maintenance, calibration is required every quarter to avoid reading deviations caused by vibration and medium crystallization.

（In a laboratory environment, technicians calibrate pressure gauges using a standard pressure source. The calibrated instrument and the standard instrument are fixed on a bracket side by side, and the data comparison shows an error of ±0.2%) . 

On-site Calibration Operation of Pressure Gauges

The maintenance cycle is one inspection and repair every six months. If the pointer does not return to zero and the oil is yellow (which affects the reading of the values), it should be replaced immediately.