What Is a Manifold in the Oil and Gas Industry?

Manifolds assist in the smooth distribution of fluid from a single source to multiple outputs or vice versa. In oil and gas industry applications you might see one used when fluid has to be transferred from wells to test lines or from the storage tank to the production line. Let's look at how manifolds work and how to choose one.

The typical manifold has a hollow structure with arrangements including valves, fittings (tees/ elbow/ plugs), tubes, pipes, and pressure equipment. The hollow body of the manifold allows the fluid to maneuver through the different ports to the production line without any obstruction. The flow parameter is controlled by two-, three-, or five-valve configurations including needle, ball, or bleed valves.

Fighting corrosion

Most manifolds are made out of strong and corrosion-resistant materials to counteract the chemically reactive nature of the process fluids. This is especially true where carbonic acid or hydrogen sulfide is a major corrosive agent.

The role of manifolds in oil and gas

Most manifolds used in the industry are made of stainless steel. Besides the material selection, there are other important considerations for the selection of the right manifold for the oil and gas industry.

1. The manifold should be able to handle the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) to which it is exposed. The MAWP for oil and gas manifolds can reach as high as 6000 psig. 
2. The manifold selection should be based on its ability to adjust to extreme temperature limits which can include from the range of -65°F to 1200°F. 
3. Apart from stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, or iron may be used based on the strength and wear resistance requirement.

• Reduced chances of oil leaks and spills
• Organized flow path which is also easy to maintain
• Smooth and shorter flow path means less fluctuation in fluid temperature and pressure
• The simpler, all-in-one design reduces installation costs

Swagelok’s manifold systems

Whether you are initiating a gas distribution system design or upgrading an existing one, Swagelok offers customized installations of our manifold system to fit your unique specifications. Most Swagelok manifolds feed multiple outlets. Our range of manifold systems includes:

• VB, and VL series (two-, three-, and five-valve) instrument manifolds 
• VE series (two-, three-, and five-valve) direct-mount manifolds 
• Two-valve remote-mount manifolds 
• Mod 85 modular instrumentation systems 

The two-valve manifolds are suitable for static pressure and liquid level application while the three- and five-valve manifolds serve application with various pressure differentials. Here are some other features that Swagelok manifolds offer:

• 316 stainless steel construction provides corrosion resistance and required strength
• Smooth internal finish minimizes chances of leaks and promotes smooth flow
• Metal-to-metal sealing with parallelly threaded connection eliminates the requirement for O-ring
• Large or small bonnet needle valve to isolate, equality or bleed off the pressure
• Customizable/ modular manifold construction
• Low fugitive emissions

Installing a Swagelok manifold at your facility

Apart from providing high-quality manifolds, Swagelok can also help you custom fabricate and install them at your Northern California facility. Whether your need is to regulate the flow through multiple cylinders or effectively grab samples for monitoring the process at the sample stations, Swagelok can help with custom-designed installations utilizing our manifolds.

Our manifolds can be customized to fit vertically or horizontally to adjust to any facility space constraints. Our experts can help you understand what a manifold is in the oil and gas industry and also assist in selecting the right tubes, pressure regulators, and connectors. As all the components work in unison with your manifold system, you can be sure about the effective handling of your systems’ process requirements.

About Morgan Zealear| Technical Services Manager

Morgan holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from University of California at Santa Barbara. He is certified in Section IX, Grab Sample Panel Configuration and Mechanical Efficiency Program Specification (API 682), and he is well versed in B31.3 Process Piping Code. Before joining Swagelok Northern, he was a manufacturing engineer at Sierra Instruments, primarily focused on capillary thermal meters for the semiconductor industry (ASML).

Related content

• Getting Help with Compressed Gas Leak Detection
• How We Support the Oil & Gas Industry
• Tools & Resources for Assembly Design