Oil Filtration Systems targets oil and gas reliability with upgraded dehydration technology

Oil Filtration Systems has introduced an upgraded version of its Vacuum Dehydration Oil Purification System (VDOPS), positioning the technology as a tool for oil and gas operators seeking to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime tied to water contamination in lubrication systems.

The company said the next-generation system delivers up to 40% greater water extraction efficiency through the addition of 50% more dispersion media, allowing operators to remove water contamination from industrial oils more quickly than previous models.

The system is designed to remove free, emulsified and dissolved water from lubricating and hydraulic oils using a vacuum dehydration process. Water contamination is a common issue in oil and gas operations, particularly in compressor stations, gas processing plants, LNG facilities and power generation assets where rotating equipment reliability is critical.

Moisture in lubrication systems can contribute to accelerated wear, corrosion, sludge buildup and shortened oil life, potentially leading to unplanned outages and increased maintenance costs.

Oil Filtration Systems said the upgraded VDOPS technology is intended to help operators restore oil integrity faster and return equipment to service more quickly following contamination events.

“Speed is critical when it comes to removing water from oil,” said Ken Kaihlanen, director of sales for Oil Filtration Systems. “With this next generation VDOPS, we’re giving our customers the ability to restore oil quality faster, reduce downtime, and better protect their equipment.”

The company conducted side-by-side testing comparing the previous and upgraded systems under identical operating conditions. According to the company, the new system reduced the time required to achieve target moisture levels by removing water up to 40% faster.

The technology is aimed at industries that rely heavily on hydraulic and lubrication systems, including power generation, heavy industrial operations and oil and gas applications.

Within the oil and gas sector, vacuum dehydration systems are commonly used to maintain lubrication systems on compressors, turbines, pumps and other critical rotating equipment. Midstream and LNG operators in particular have increased their focus on lubricant condition monitoring and predictive maintenance as facilities push for higher equipment utilization and longer maintenance intervals.

Oil Filtration Systems, a division of Clark-Reliance, specializes in oil filtration and contamination control technologies for industrial applications.