Oil filters probably seem like a necessary but unimportant aspect of operating a rig, and you may never give them a second thought. But what you don’t know about oil filters could make a huge difference in your productivity, profits and even your impact on the environment.

Puradyn oil filtration systems use advanced technology to keep oil cleaner for longer, extending the amount of time between oil changes. This becomes especially significant when multiplied by the large scale of most drilling operations.

Kevin Kroger, Puradyn president and COO, talked to us about the advantages of the Puradyn system. “Compared to other companies, we offer a complete system, not just filters. Where most other filters remove only one type of contaminant, we remove gases and solids, and then replace the base additive. This keeps the engine cleaner and extends engine life.”

Large particles in oil damage the engine, so filtering out as many particles as possible is crucial to maintaining the engine’s integrity. “Most oil film is between 1 and 1.5 microns,” Kroger said, “We filter out 70 percent below one micron, so we’re able to remove a lot of what other filters leave behind.”

Even though more advanced oil filters like Puradyn can save money in the long term, it may seem difficult to justify the higher upfront cost. However, according to Kroger, the Puradyn system pays for itself within as little as 45 days. “The harsher the environment and the greater the intensity of use, the faster you’ll see cost savings,” he said.

One oil field drilling contractor, Greg Bradshaw of Nabors Drilling, has used the Puradyn filtration system for about seven years. “One of the big advantages of Puradyn is that it keeps the oil cleaner. This reduces our cost by lowering consumables, by increasing the intervals between oil changes,” Bradshaw said.

The higher initial cost of the system looks intimidating, the company says, until drillers understand how much money they’ll save later. “It can be difficult to convince people at first about why it’s worthwhile to spend more on a filtration system,” Kroger said. “Once we can show them the direct cost savings, they’ll notice the indirect savings later as they begin using it.”

Not only do drillers save money by changing oil less often, they can also save money in labor costs. “Instead of spending so much time changing oil, staff can do other repairs. It allows you to be proactive instead of reactive because you can free up staff to do that ongoing maintenance,” Kroger said.

“In a lot of ways, we were a product before our time,” Kroger said. “When oil was cheaper, it was harder to show the cost savings of our products. Now that more people are concerned about the environment, drillers in many parts of the U.S. are thinking about how to handle their waste oil. When you’re talking about 85 to 250 gallons of oil at a time, that’s a lot. If you can extend the life of the oil by three to five times, that’s less you need to dispose of, less oil that needs to be produced.”

Environmental rules such as the Tier 4 Emissions Regulations are another reason that drillers might want to consider high-tech filters like Puradyn to extend the life of their engines. “With the Tier 4 requirements, oil will be more stressed. Higher temperatures produce more contaminants, and every 10 degree increase in oil temperatures equals a 50 percent reduction in the performance of oil,” Kroger said.

Puradyn filters can be used in any type of rig that uses up to 450 gallons of lubricating oil in the engine. They offer six different systems because it’s not a “one size fits all” concept; the goal is to provide the proper chemical balance in the oil.

“As industry continues to grow and become more competitive, the ones who will survive are the ones who reduce their costs,” Kroger said. Improving the bottom line is a must for any contractor who hopes to survive, and small details like oil filters can make a major difference.

For more information on Puradyn, visitwww.puradyn.com.