Recently, domestic refined oil products have witnessed "five consecutive price increases" in 2026. As the "first mile" of the energy supply chain, the production safety of oil and gas fields directly determines the stability of energy supply. Yet in such a high-temperature, high-pressure, flammable and explosive operating environment, even a tiny electric spark, a single lightning strike, or a momentary signal disruption can trigger production halts or even catastrophic accidents. Against the wave of digital transformation in oil and gas fields, information collection, remote fault diagnosis, and reliable signal transmission have become critical to safe production and efficient operation.
1 Core Safety Requirements
Oil and gas production involves explosive atmospheres, so safety protection must strictly comply with national standards:
I. Explosion-proof Safety
As associated equipment for intrinsically safe explosion-proof systems, **isolated safety barriers** must limit hazardous energy transmission into explosive gas atmospheres to achieve intrinsic safety, in accordance with **GB/T 3836.1-2021** and **GB/T 3836.4-2021**. To ensure continuity and reliability of industrial production, they shall also resist industrial electromagnetic interference, isolate power input and output signals, deliver low temperature drift under high and low temperatures, and resist corrosion in harsh on-site environments, realizing multi-function integration.
II. Lightning Protection Safety
**SH/T 3164-2021 *Code for Lightning Protection Engineering Design of Petrochemical Instrument Systems*** specifies lightning protection design requirements and methods for instrument systems in petrochemical plants, aiming to prevent damage to instrument systems caused by lightning (including direct lightning, induced lightning, and lightning wave intrusion) and ensure safe and stable operation. It adopts a "condition-triggered" approach to simplify the lightning protection judgment process for higher intuitiveness and reliability; SPDs are upgraded to "irreplaceable core measures", with clear installation requirements for different instrument types.
III. Functional Safety
Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) must comply with **IEC 61508:2010** and **IEC 61511:2026** SIL standards, reaching **SIL2/SIL3** levels, to ensure reliable execution of safety instructions (e.g., emergency shutdown) under critical conditions.
2 Four Lines of Defense for Oil and Gas Field Safety
First Line: Surge Protection
*The first gate against lightning strikes*
- Wellhead scenario: Transmitters, RTUs and other equipment are exposed outdoors, and power/signal lines are prone to induced lightning intrusion. - Gathering & Transfer Station scenario: Dense equipment such as pump control cabinets and flowmeters make it easy for lightning to spread through grounding systems.
- Key Implementation:Classify lightning protection levels per SH/T 3164-2021 based on lightning activity intensity (e.g., average annual thunderstorm days, lightning risk assessment), with corresponding protection requirements for Level 1/Level 2.
- Direct lightning protection: For outdoor instruments (e.g., radar level meters, weather stations) or tall structures (e.g., towers, instrument supports), use lightning rods, lightning belts, etc., with safe spatial clearance from protected equipment. - Induced lightning & lightning wave protection: Focus on induced overvoltage and lightning waves introduced by power/signal lines, using equipotential bonding, shielding, reasonable wiring, and Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) to mitigate risks. -CHENZHU Solution: Full-range SPDs compliant with SH/T 3164-2021, featuring high surge current capacity, fast response, and ultra-slim 6 mm width for "zero cabinet expansion" in retrofits.
Second Line: Intrinsically Safe Explosion Protection
*Lock energy in the safe zone*
Intrinsically safe instruments in hazardous areas **must connect to control systems in safe zones via safety barriers**.
Key Implementation:Isolated safety barriers designed in line with GB/T 3836.1 and GB/T 3836.4 adopt three-end isolation (power input/output) and require no intrinsically safe grounding. They also support signal conversion, isolation, anti-EMI, low temperature drift, corrosion resistance, and salt spray resistance, ensuring reliable continuous automated production.
CHENZHU Solution:Full-signal isolated safety barriers with explosion-proof rating **[Ex ia] IIC** and Ex ec certification, installable in Zone 2 explosive areas.
Third Line: HART Acquisition
*Make instruments "speak up"*
Oil and gas fields are equipped with thousands of smart instruments. Traditional calibration and troubleshooting rely on manual on-site operation, which is inefficient and high-risk in remote well sites or high-hazard areas, leaving massive HART digital-layer data unused.Key Implementation:HART multi-channel collectors, designed per HART specifications, capture and load digital HART signals onto 4–20 mA analog signals, with independent channel-to-channel signal transmission (no crosstalk), and compatible with asset management software from major domestic and international brands.
CHENZHU Solution: CZ8664.HM HART multi-channel collector, compatible with HART 5–7 protocols, supporting centralized management of up to **16,384** field smart instruments for digital remote operation and maintenance.
Fourth Line: Safety Interlock
*The final gate of the SIS system*
Oil and gas production faces over-limit, equipment failure, and misoperation risks. As the "last line of defense", the SIS monitors critical parameters (pressure, temperature, flow, etc.) and triggers safety actions (emergency shutdown, automatic venting, valve closure) under dangerous conditions to reduce risks to acceptable levels.CHENZHU Solution: Isolated safety barriers, SPDs, safety relays, CZSC safety controllers and other products, TÜV Rhein certified to **SIL2/SIL3**.3 CHENZHU Integrated Product SolutionsIn process automation, Chenzhu helps meet signal isolation/conversion and safety protection needs for on-site electrical and digital signals. Its safety modules prevent safety risks caused by explosions, lightning strikes, and strong interference, ensuring stable, safe, and long-period operation of automated devices.
