When you are challenged by the demands of 12,000 ft ocean depths for subsea blow out preventers (BOPs), piston accumulator technology is the right choice.
Oil and gas accumulators can be used for blowout preventer, offshore rig and mud pump applications. Designed with considerable flexibility, you can find an appropriate type to match your volume, pressure and the type of fluid required.
Accumulator systems include bladder, diaphragm, and piston, which are available commercially. Two more designs available in oil and gas accumulators are bellows and composite overwrapped. Bellows accumulators are mainly used in extreme abrasive and harsh environments. Composite overwrapped accumulator are used to increase performance and reliability of engineered components.
The oil and gas markets demands high-pressure piston accumulators. With working pressure ratings up to 30,000 psi and capacities of 160+ gallons, Parker accumulators meet the tough demands of deep, subsea oil and gas applications, including blowout prevention systems (BOPs), well-head control panels, “Christmas” trees and other emerging drilling systems.
In addition to high pressure-rated units for subsea applications, Parker offers piston accumulators rated to below -40°F. This increased flexibility at extreme temperature ranges offers GAD’s customers the ability to operate their equipment in virtually any environment. For additional information, contact an Applications Engineer at the Parker Global Accumulator Division (GAD) in Rockford, Ill., at 815.636.4100.
Parker’s piston accumulator capability includes 1.5- to 25-inch bore sizes with capacities up to 200 gallons. All are custom designed to fit a specific application utilizing a total custom-based systems approach that includes application engineering and worldwide support. Currently, Parker lead-times for both stainless and carbon steel units are significantly shorter than the rest of the marketplace.
Advantages of piston accumulatorsThe piston accumulators provide major advantages in terms of the energy output of the system and maintenance of the installation:
- Reduction in working costs
- Reduces installed electrical power
- Significant energy saving
- Increased lifetime of equipment
- Reduces pulsations
- Protects against pressure peaks
- Reduction in maintenance cost
- Reduces wear of hydraulic components
- Requires minimum maintenance of the installation
Parker is supplying 80-gallon piston accumulators specifically designed and built in special grade stainless steel to meet the demanding requirements of the 10,000 to 12,000-ft subsea ocean floor environment. The new 80-gallon accumulators have a 14-inch bore and are rated to 7500 psi design pressure. All Parker units feature the required pressure vessel certifications for worldwide use in multiple locations including the following:
- ABS – American Bureau of Shipping
- DNV – Det Norske Veritas (E-101 regulations)
- PED – European Pressure Equipment Directive “CE” marked
- ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- CRN – Canadian Registration Number
“Parker's work with subsea BOPs and piston accumulators is due in part to a long and productive relationship with Cameron and our ability to custom engineer piston accumulators with capacities up to 200-gallons, and with ASME ratings of 20,000 psi. To date, these 80-gallon stainless units are the largest built for today’s subsea drilling environment.” Jeff Sage, product manager, Parker’s Hydraulic Accumulator Division
Photo Caption: Parker’s Hydraulic Accumulator Division is supplying 80-gallon piston accumulators
specifically designed and built in special grade stainless steel to meet the demanding requirements of the
10,000 to 12,000-ft subsea ocean floor environment of Cameron's BOP units
“Parker’s secured stainless steel supply source,” points out Roger Bolton, sourcing specialist, Cameron,
“allows them to meet our demanding BOP build schedules for the new generation of rigs currently under
construction for deep water ocean floor drilling. Parker has not missed a delivery date, their pricing is
competitive, and there have been no quality problems.” Cameron is a leading provider of flow equipment
products, systems and services to the worldwide oil, gas and process industries.
Article contributed by Jeff Sage, Product Manager Accumulator and Cooler Division . About Parker’s Hydraulic Accumulator Division
Parker’s Hydraulic Accumulator Division supplies the global marketplace with the broadest line of hydraulic
accumulators and accessories in the industry. For more than 50 years, Parker piston and bladder style accumulators have been improving the performance of hydraulic systems by prolonging equipment life, lowering operating costs and reducing downtime.
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