Parker Instrumentation for Kashagan field

Parker Instrumentation has signed a framework agreement for the supply of the instrumentation valves, manifolds and tube fittings for the giant Kashagan oil project in Kazakhstan.

Environmental protection is a critical factor for this project, which will operate in a sensitive ecosystem. A key factor in the selection of Parker is its interconnection technology that eliminates traditional taper threaded connections in favour of high-integrity compression seals.

A wide range of instrumentation products, in both stainless steel and exotic nickel alloys, will be required for the Kashagan project, which will have offshore production and onshore processing facilities. These include ball and needle valves for controlling oil and gas flow, manifolds for connecting the pressure and flow measurement instruments, and both twin-ferrule and high-pressure tube fittings for interconnecting the instrumentation system.

In what is believed to be a first for the oil and gas industry on a major project like this, all the manifolds are required to include a Parker technology known as PTFree which integrates A-LOK compression tube fittings. This eliminates the need for taper threaded connections, and the liquid or tape materials that are required to get a good seal. The result is a connection system that is less prone to leakages and problems, and one that typically has fewer potential interconnection points and therefore potential leak paths.