The Oil & Gas, Energy, and Petrochemical industries are extremely vast. Starting with drilling wells, to delivering the oil to refineries to make fuels [gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil], delivering the natural gas to power generators, gas fractionators, who extract gas liquids, then made into plastics at chemical plants, and more recently, to LNG port facilities where it is chilled and loaded onto tankers and shipped around the world.
Texas produces nearly half of the oil in the USA, and these industries, predominantly centered on the US Gulf Coast, with >70% of the total US refining capacity, dozens of chemical plants and LNG shipping facilities, is in a continuous state of construction, expansion, and maintenance, all of which require a broad range of pneumatic tools offered by International Air Tool & Industrial Supply Company.
Industrial plant sites, whether under construction or in 24/7 operation are in constant need for prompt delivery of needed tools. This is never more important than preparing for scheduled “turnarounds" when operations are shut down for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for routine maintenance, cleaning, repairs, upgrades, etc. During these periods no products are being produced (therefore no revenue) hence the urgency for efficient execution, which is scheduled in detail in advance for a 24/7 “all hands on deck” basis.
From anchor bolting process equipment & towers, pulling & installing heat exchanger bundles, pipeline flange bolting, erecting steel structures and pipe racks, Industrial Grade Impact Wrenches are needed, and International Air Tool carries all the major brands, many stocked in our local warehouse and ready to be promptly shipped to our customers.
Anchor Bolting of major equipment is a critically important step to keep it secure, as any movement or vibrations can loosen piping connections, causing leaks which can be dangerous. Pneumatic high torque impact wrenches are needed, and International Air Tool carries Impact Wrenches with torques up to 20,000 ft-lbs. (~14,750 Nm) which feature a 2-1/2" anvil.
Another frequently required tool is the Pavement Breaker, for removal of existing concrete to allow for the installation of new equipment or facilities. Sometimes this is needed to expose the underlying foundation reinforcement [rebar] to determine the adequacy of the foundation to support the new load being installed. In industrial plants, High Voltage Electrical cabling is often buried in Red Concrete, and removing surface concrete to inspect it is sometimes necessary as well. These can be operated with a portable compressor if the Plant Air system is inadequate or unavailable.
Depending on the type and condition of the ground, the best tool for the job may be a Pneumatic Digger - similar to the Pavement Breaker but better for Asphalt, or shallow concrete [e.g. area paving, sidewalks.] In contrast to pavement breakers which are oriented perpendicular to the work, diggers are positioned at an angle.
Pneumatic Chipping Hammers are a lighter option when more precise concrete removal is required. Also referred to as chippers or chipping guns, these multi purpose demolition tools are offered with either a 1", 2", 3", or 4" stroke. The longer stroke the more agressive the blow.
When the specific task at hand doesn’t require the high torque capability of pneumatic impact wrenches, cordless tools are the usual choice of workers, which include: Torque Wrenches, Drill Drivers, Hammer Drills, Impact Drivers, Sanders, and Reciprocating Saws. You can learn more about industrial grade cordless tool in the link that follows > Explore Ingersoll Rand Cordless Tools
NOTE: As the Oil & Gas industry deals with flammable products where a single spark can cause a fire or worse, very little welding is ever used, and then only in extreme circumstances.
Refer to our “Welding & Fabrication” page for those products and tools.
For help choosing the right pneumatic tool, cordless, tool, chain fall or diaphragm pump for your petro-chemical applicaton give us a call (800) 608-5210 or drop us a line at info@intlairtool.com