Now, it’s gone a step further. “We’ve utilized the best design and materials to withstand the rigors of the oil and gas production process, and will deliver services that are better than what our customers expect,” says David Hill, CEO of Kimray, on the Oklahoma City-based company’s new pump technology.

“We believe these products will be a real game-changer for us, as well as the oil and gas industry.”

Kimray marketing manager Daniel Kraeer says the proof of savings is in the pump.

“This pump is different from most of the pumps in this particular field,” Kraeer says. “Most pumps use fluid to drive gears, and that’s fine, except for those parts are exposed to the process fluid. If you run a really gritty fluid, that stuff runs by the pistons and the gears and those parts wear out.”

In the new pump, a rubber diaphragm separates the fluids from the piston.

“That translates to less wear, easier repairs and less costly repairs, and longer service life in all of our trials,” he says.

By the end of the second quarter, Kimray’s new pumps were just beginning to hit the market. The company’s existing energy exchange pump has been in the market for more than half a century.

Kraeer says it’s the industry standard when customers have no power on site.

“But we needed to take our experience in being the standard in the energy-exchange pump and come up with an electric alternative,” he says.

Since the old pump runs without electricity, it relies on the pressure from the well site. In using that, a certain amount of gas is consumed.

“More and more, we’re finding places that have regulations on emissions, and they’ve needed an emissions-free solution,” Kraeer says.

The pump is the first of its kind to use a patented hydraulically balanced diaphragm to pump particles in suspension, leaving less maintenance for the customer.

It can be used to circulate glycol in natural gas dehydration systems, but also can be used for desulphurization and chemical injection applications. The pump operates in conjunction with a properly sized electric motor either directly connected or belt-driven.

The Oklahoma-based manufacturer has produced gas exchange pumps since 1948 and sells to customers worldwide. The research and development for the electric glycol pump began three years ago and has undergone extensive field and lab testing.

Kimray’s electric glycol pump requires no gas to operate, and produces no emissions, meaning no costly fines for the end user.