Computing solutions for O&G professionals must deliver reliable performance in harsh environments and ensure the utmost safety in extreme conditions. When choosing computers for the O&G industry, the system must handle diverse settings like an oil rig or offshore drilling site. That’s why, when considering durable laptops for oil and gas fieldwork, oil and gas engineers should also look for systems that function well in varying temperatures, from the frozen tundra to a scorching desert.
This is why ruggedized edge computers often make the best computers for O&G engineers. Computers for oil and gas engineers must be robust to keep operations flowing in many environments for a global industry that generated over $5 trillion from 2018-2023.
Before discussing O&G professionals’ top computer buying considerations, let’s define the three main sectors of the oil and gas industry.
Defining the 3 Segments of the Oil and Gas Industry
Companies in the gas and oil industry fall into three segments or “streams”: upstream, midstream and downstream:
- Upstream – Offshore drilling and production platforms.
- Midstream – Moves or transports extracted raw oil to downstream facilities.
- Downstream – Operations that convert oil and gas to a finished product. Examples include oil or gas plants and oil refineries. The closer a company is to the customer/end-user, the farther “downstream” it is.
Buying Considerations for Oil and Gas Professionals
Oil and gas professionals who are looking for a computing system to handle tough, industry-specific operations have several buying considerations. They include:
- Heat and cold ratings of the equipment – O&G engineers need ruggedized edge computing solutions that perform in varying temperatures — from an arctic region to a hot, dry desert.
- Reliability – An O&G computer should be reliable and durable and able to withstand harsh environmental conditions. For example, an oil refinery may require systems that operate in extreme temperatures and high-vibration environments.
- Safety standards and regulations – Every industry has a unique set of safety standards for on-site industrial computing solutions. Safety is always a top priority. For instance, in the oil and gas industry, worksites may contain airborne particles or explosive vapors. Comark displays and computers support security protocols and hazard detections to ensure a protected work environment. With so many regulations to ensure operator safety within refinery processes, drilling applications, oil platforms and field services, Comark is committed to certifying products to comply with IEC international safety standards.
- Longevity and supporting future software – Customers don’t want to spend $3K or more on a ruggedized PC and then see it fail in 2.5 years. Comark systems are designed for longevity and adaptability for a 7-year lifecycle.
- Adherence to certification requirements – Depending on the industry or application, computing systems must meet specific certification requirements. Comark’s Nematron® is the gold standard in industrial computers and displays. All Nematron products hold UL and Class 1, Division 2 certifications, ensuring safety and compliance. Oil and gas-compatible systems also carry FCC/CE/UL 61010/C1D2, ATEx and IECEx certifications.
Delivering Customers’ Desired Outcomes
Customers care most about having the same cutout dimensions for decades (so panel upgrades are easier). They also want to save time, money and effort, and have oil and gas computers that deliver foolproof, proven ruggedness. Comark has decades of experience engineering custom PCs and monitors that are manufactured and supported in the USA. The company offers quick-ship options with C1D2-certified products that are ready to go. Contact Comark today to discuss how we can meet your ruggedized O&G computing needs.
