Oil and gas fabrication projects can involve demanding operating conditions, specialized materials, pressure requirements, and detailed project specifications.
Components may also be destined for remote facilities or field locations where installation, maintenance, and project schedules need to be considered before fabrication begins.
For companies sourcing an oil and gas fabrication company in Colorado, choosing the right shop involves more than comparing price and turnaround time. The fabricator needs to understand the project’s specifications, ask the right questions, and have the capabilities required to produce the components correctly.
Here are some of the most important factors to consider when evaluating a fabrication company for an oil and gas project.
1. Start With the Project Specifications
Oil and gas fabrication isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Requirements can vary depending on the application, material, operating environment, pressure requirements, component, and overall project specifications.
Before fabrication begins, the fabricator should understand the requirements that apply to the specific project.
That may include:
- Drawings and dimensions
- Material specifications
- Required tolerances
- Pressure or operating requirements
- Welding requirements
- Inspection or testing requirements
- Applicable project standards or codes
- Installation considerations
- Finish requirements
When requesting a quote, provide these requirements as early as possible so the fabrication company can determine whether the project fits its capabilities.
2. Ask About Relevant Welding and Fabrication Experience
Different oil and gas components can require different materials, welding processes, fabrication methods, and project requirements.
Rather than simply asking whether a shop “does oil and gas work,” ask about its experience with the specific type of component or fabrication your project requires.
For example:
- Has the shop worked with similar piping components?
- Does it regularly fabricate structural components?
- Can it work from detailed project drawings and specifications?
- Does it have experience with the required material?
- What welding and fabrication processes can it perform in-house?
Relevant experience can help a fabricator identify questions, material considerations, and potential fabrication issues earlier in the project.
3. Look at In-House Fabrication Capabilities
Many oil and gas fabrication projects require more than one fabrication process.
A component may need to be:
- CNC plasma cut
- Bent or formed
- Welded
- Incorporated into a larger assembly
- Modified to meet project specifications
Ask which processes the shop performs in-house and which, if any, need to be coordinated through outside vendors.
Having multiple fabrication capabilities under one roof can simplify communication and coordination as components move through different stages of production.
4. Ask About Piping and Custom Component Capabilities
Oil and gas projects can involve a wide variety of custom-fabricated components.
Depending on the project, fabrication needs may include:
- Spec blinds
- Custom piping components
- Structural supports
- Custom brackets
- Mounting hardware
- CNC-cut plate
- Structural components
- Other built-to-spec metal components
When evaluating a fabrication company, ask whether the shop has experience producing the specific type of component required for your project.
Drawings and specifications are especially important for custom components because they allow the fabricator to evaluate dimensions, materials, quantities, and fabrication requirements before work begins.
5. Consider Field and Installation Requirements
A component that works in the fabrication shop still needs to work where it will ultimately be installed.
Oil and gas equipment may be destined for field locations, industrial facilities, or other environments where transportation, installation, access, and future maintenance need to be considered.
Providing information about the installation environment can help the fabricator understand the complete application rather than looking at the component in isolation.
Depending on the project, useful information may include:
- Installation location
- Space or access limitations
- How the component will connect to existing equipment
- Transportation considerations
- Field assembly requirements
- Maintenance access
- Environmental or operating conditions
Discussing these considerations before fabrication begins can help identify potential issues earlier in the process.
6. Understand Material Requirements and Sourcing
Oil and gas fabrication projects may require specific steel or stainless steel materials, dimensions, thicknesses, or grades.
Ask how the fabrication company handles material sourcing and whether material procurement can be coordinated as part of the project.
Providing complete material specifications at the quote stage also allows the fabricator to evaluate availability and identify potential sourcing considerations before they affect the production schedule.
Working with a shop that provides both material sales and fabrication services can also simplify coordination when a project requires both.
7. Ask About Documentation and Quality Control
Industrial fabrication projects can involve multiple drawings, specifications, revisions, and project requirements.
Before selecting a fabrication company, ask how project information is managed throughout the fabrication process.
Important considerations can include:
- How drawings and revisions are handled
- How specification questions are clarified
- How material requirements are confirmed
- How changes are communicated
- What inspection or testing requirements apply to the project
- How final project requirements are verified before completion
The exact documentation and quality-control requirements will depend on the project, but those expectations should be established before fabrication begins.
8. Establish a Realistic Fabrication Timeline
Turnaround time matters, particularly when fabricated components are tied to a larger construction, maintenance, repair, or operational schedule.
However, production time can vary significantly depending on the project.
Material availability, quantity, component complexity, cutting, bending, welding, inspection requirements, and other fabrication processes can all affect the schedule.
Instead of relying on a general turnaround claim, provide the fabrication company with the complete scope and ask for a realistic timeline based on the actual project requirements.
A clear understanding of the timeline upfront also makes it easier to identify potential scheduling or material issues before fabrication begins.
What to Send R&M for an Oil and Gas Fabrication Quote
The more complete the project information is at the beginning, the easier it is to evaluate fabrication requirements.
When contacting R&M Welding & Fabrication about an industrial or oil and gas fabrication project, provide as much of the following information as possible:
- Project drawings
- Component dimensions
- Material specifications
- Material thickness
- Quantities
- Required tolerances, if applicable
- Welding and fabrication requirements
- Applicable project standards or codes
- Inspection or testing requirements, if applicable
- Installation or field considerations
- Additional cutting, bending, or fabrication requirements
- Desired project timeline
If some information is still being finalized, provide the available project documentation so R&M can determine what additional details are needed to evaluate the scope.
Industrial Fabrication in Greeley and Northern Colorado
R&M Welding & Fabrication provides in-house fabrication capabilities from its shop in Greeley, Colorado.
R&M’s capabilities include CNC plasma cutting, press brake bending, welding, material sales, and custom fabrication, allowing multiple stages of a project to be coordinated within the same shop.
For industrial projects involving piping components, structural components, spec blinds, custom parts, or other built-to-spec fabrication, having multiple capabilities in-house can reduce unnecessary handoffs and provide a more direct point of communication throughout the project.
Have an Oil and Gas Fabrication Project?
If you have an upcoming oil and gas or industrial fabrication project, send R&M Welding & Fabrication your available drawings, specifications, material requirements, quantities, and desired project timeline.
The R&M team can review the scope and determine whether the project fits its fabrication capabilities and what additional information may be required to move toward a quote.