Transformers & Switchgear for Oil & Gas
Refineries, midstream compressor stations, terminals, and offshore platforms run hard on transformers and switchgear designed for hot, salty, and hazardous environments. We build to the specifications your safety case demands.
What Makes Oil & Gas Different
Three things drive every spec decision in this industry: environmental severity, motor-dominant load, and area classification. Equipment that's perfect for an office building will fail in months at a Gulf Coast refinery.
- Environment: high humidity, salt spray, hydrocarbon fumes, temperature extremes. Stainless or galvanized enclosures, IP55+ ratings, conformal-coated electronics.
- Loads: large induction motors driving pumps, compressors, and crackers. VFDs are everywhere — harmonics matter. Motor inrush has to coordinate with upstream protection.
- Area classification: Class I Division 1 or 2 in much of the U.S. Gulf Coast. Equipment placed in classified areas needs explosion-proof or purged-and-pressurized housing.
What We Build for Oil & Gas
Our standard offerings adapted for upstream, midstream, and downstream applications:
- Outdoor pad-mounted transformers with stainless or galvanized tank, sealed bushings, and corrosion-resistant paint systems. Loaded 80% nameplate for thermal margin in hot ambients.
- Cast resin dry-type for indoor electrical buildings — F1 fire class, IP55 enclosures available, no oil to manage near combustible product.
- K-rated transformers (K-13 / K-20) for buses feeding multiple VFDs. Eliminates harmonic-induced overheating that plagues standard units.
- MV metal-clad switchgear (5–15 kV) per IEEE C37.20.2 with vacuum breakers. Often arc-resistant construction for personnel safety in close-quarters substations.
- LV switchboards (UL 891) with high SCCR ratings (100 kAIC and up) for the higher fault currents typical at oil & gas service entrances.
Specification Considerations
Conservative Loading
We typically design oil & gas transformers to carry 80% of nameplate continuously. Emergency replacement on a remote site can take weeks; the conservative loading buys you margin against unexpected demand and ambient extremes.
Vector Group & Inrush
Motor starting inrush on an oil & gas plant is dramatic — full-voltage starts on 1500 HP motors are common. The transformer's vector group, impedance, and upstream protection settings have to coordinate so a motor start doesn't trip the upstream breaker.
Harmonic Mitigation
VFDs are universal in this industry. Spec K-13 minimum for any feeder serving multiple drives. See our harmonics article for K-rating selection.
Spare Parts & Rapid Response
Strategic spares are typical for critical service. Many of our oil & gas customers maintain a strategic spares program: pre-built breakers, complete spare cells, and oil-test capability on-site.
Equipment placed in Class I Division 1 or 2 areas requires explosion-proof construction (NEMA 7) or purged-and-pressurized enclosures (NEMA 7P). We build classified-area transformers and switchgear on request — send us the area-classification drawing and we'll spec it.
Typical Project Profile
A representative oil & gas project for us looks like:
- 13.8 kV utility service to a Gulf Coast facility
- Main MV switchgear: 4-section metal-clad lineup with 1200 A bus, 25 kA SC, draw-out vacuum breakers, SEL-751 microprocessor relays
- Step-down transformers: 2× 1500 kVA cast resin (480 V), K-13, IP55 enclosures, F1 fire class
- LV switchboards: dual-ended main-tie-main, 3000 A bus, 100 kAIC SCCR, UL 891 listed
- Lead time: 18 weeks
- Full NETA acceptance testing & commissioning included
Ready to Spec Your Refinery / Midstream Project?
Send us your single-line and equipment list. We'll quote within 2 business days.