All signs point to oil production hitting record highs in the US – at a time when OPEC is cutting back output.  The US recently surged past Canada as the biggest exporter of oil to China, and the fact that the U.S. is a larger exporter of crude than many OPEC countries often surprises people.  But the fact remains that many countries are importing oil at record rates, including China, whose orders in February jumped four times from the month before.  This development means that upgrades in the field can give a business a competitive edge.

Whether drilling for oil or managing a slurry, equipment plays a vital role in getting to the marketplace.  Of course, no one wants to experience equipment failure.  But there are other ways to lose money on inefficient equipment.  For example, standard slurry heaters can waste over 300% more energy getting the job done as a Klean-Wall Heat Exchanger.  Large digester heaters will find reduced retention time by a whopping 50%.

Other ways equipment can create issues is through clogging.  Wall buildup can pack pipes to the point where the equipment must be taken offline and cleaned.  A quality heat exchanger can pass debris up to 50% of the diameter of the pipe and eliminates wall buildup through serious turbulence, which means cleaning is reduced – or even eliminated.  This saves both time and money.

The oil market is always a moving target.  The Asian market, long dominated by Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, has begun shifting over to Western exporters.  No one can predict exactly what will happen in the following years or where the market will shift next.  But we do know that squeezing every last bit of profit out of an industry with a boom and bust cycle is critical, and that can start with your equipment.