In oilfield operations, a hazardous location is defined as a place where concentrations of flammable hydrocarbon gases, vapors, or mists can occur. These are usually areas around wellheads, compression equipment, tanks, and pipelines. Electrical equipment that installed in such locations is has to be especially designed, tested and certified to ensure that it does not ignite a flammable gas, or initiate an explosion. Improperly designed and installed electrical equipment can cause explosions or act as ignition sources due to arcing contacts, sparks, high surface temperature or uncontrolled release of energy.
Many different design strategies exist for prevention of ignition and explosions in hazardous areas caused by electrical equipment. These include: Flameproofing, Increased Safety, Oil-filling, Encapsulation, Purging, and intrinsic safety. The Rapidlogger data-acquisition system is available in versions that are suitable for use in hazardous locations.
