Gardner Denver introduces Black Diamond hydrostatic tester
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin -- Given the current belt-tightening in the oil and gas sector, everyone’s looking for ways to work smarter, more efficiently and with fewer people. Hydrostatic testing, a crucial but intensive production process can pose a challenge, particularly for resource-strapped startups without the ready capital to outsource these services. Enter Black Diamond—a perfectly timed competitive edge.
The Black Diamond Hydrostatic Tester accurately evaluates the integrity of drill, production or casing pipe. Powered by the proven Gardner Denver Triplex pump, this versatile workhorse is ideal for pipe-yard testing, BOP testing and assisting in hydraulic fracturing operations. It’s available in portable diesel or electric, in 75-100 HP packages, with a wide variety of options to fit the application or the geography.
John Snyder, sales manager for Gardner Denver, said, “Thanks to some impressive engineering, the Black Diamond goes where others simply can’t.”
“We have three different fluid-end configurations that deliver 8,000 PSI at 18 gallons a minute, or 40,000 PSI at 3.5 gallons a minute. And with our unique Pressure-Trol System, a single operator can control pressure and redirect flow via a simple lever and rotary knob, without ever disengaging the clutch or stopping the engine,” he added.
That makes a huge difference. Constantly starting and stopping an engine will prematurely wear components, dramatically shortening the life of production equipment. The Pressure-Trol Valve also simplifies the process and, with the addition of a high-volume centrifugal pump, allows the operator to combine higher pressure with faster fill rates, more than three times the rate of competitor testers.
Maintenance is also easy. Fluid-end components are field replaceable in thirty minutes or less with ordinary hand tools. All of these advantages have attracted significant attention, particularly among start-ups.
The Black Diamond can be permanently mounted to a skid or a gooseneck trailer, completely self-sustained with one or two 225-gallon stainless-steel tanks.
Other options include anti-corrosive, stainless-steel components for brine-water applications, popular in the Marcellus, Utica and Eagle Ford shale formations; cold-weather packages with self-enclosed trailers; remote engine throttle and PTO engagement; and an electronic chart recorder with Bluetooth or Ethernet connectivity to tablet or laptop computers.
At least for the time being, Gardner Denver is primarily marketing the Black Diamond in the U.S. and Canada, but testers have been sold for use in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
