Not every isolation transformer belongs in a clean, climate-controlled electrical room. Outdoor equipment, corrosive facilities, dusty plants, washdown areas,...
Transformer Solutions
for Oil & Gas Facilities
From remote wellsites and pipeline compression stations to gas plants, refineries, and oil sands facilities — oil and gas operations span the full range of electrical complexity. Large pump and compressor motors, VFD-driven artificial lift, hazardous area classifications, extreme cold, and continuous 24/7 production pressure all place exceptional demands on power infrastructure. Transformer Source supplies outdoor-rated, motor-starting-capable, and hazardous-location-compatible dry-type transformers built for the full spectrum of upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas applications.
- CSA & UL Certified
- Ships from Canadian Stock
- 3 kVA – 1,000 kVA Range
- Custom Configurations Available
Powering Oil & Gas Facilities
Oil and gas electrical systems are defined by two factors that rarely appear together in other industries: hazardous area classifications and enormous motor loads. Gas compressor stations run motors from 500 HP to over 5,000 HP. Pipeline pump stations move product with multi-thousand-horsepower electric drives. Oil sands facilities run massive extraction and processing loads around the clock in -40°C winters. And all of this happens in classified hazardous areas where electrical equipment selection is governed by strict explosion-protection codes.
Transformer Source supplies dry-type transformers for non-hazardous electrical rooms, substations, and distribution panels within oil and gas facilities — the correct equipment for the equipment room boundary that separates classified and non-classified areas. Our units are CSA certified, rated for extreme cold, available in outdoor-certified configurations, and stocked in the kVA sizes needed for serious oil and gas loads.
Key Oil & Gas Power Challenges We Solve:
- Large compressor and pump motor starting: Gas compressors and pipeline pumps with motors from 200 HP to 5,000+ HP require reduced-voltage or soft-start solutions — motor starting autotransformers for across-the-line applications
- VFD harmonic loads: Variable speed drives on ESP artificial lift, compressors, and pump stations generate significant harmonics — K-13 rated transformers required for all VFD-loaded electrical rooms
- Hazardous area boundary: Transformers are located in the non-hazardous electrical room at the classified/non-classified boundary — correct location and enclosure selection is a safety-critical decision
- Outdoor and remote installations: Pipeline stations, wellsite batteries, and remote facilities require NEMA 3R and encapsulated units rated for Canadian outdoor conditions
- Extreme cold: Alberta, BC, and northern Canada oil and gas sites reach -40°C — cold-temperature rated transformers and enclosure heaters are required for outdoor installations
- Voltage conversion: Imported oil field equipment, ESP pumps, and processing equipment rated at 400V, 460V, or 480V requires step-down from Canadian 600V distribution
- Camp and facility power: Remote oil and gas camps, control buildings, and gas plant admin facilities require standard distribution transformers alongside the heavy industrial units
Oil & Gas Segments We Serve:
- Upstream: Wellsite Batteries & SAGD Operations
- Upstream: Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) Artificial Lift
- Midstream: Pipeline Pump & Compression Stations
- Midstream: Gas Processing & NGL Fractionation
- Midstream: LNG Facilities & Storage Terminals
- Downstream: Refineries & Upgraders
- Oil Sands: Mining, Extraction & Processing
- Offshore: Platform Topsides & FPSO Auxiliary Power
- Remote Camps & Facility Support Infrastructure
Recommended Transformers for Oil & Gas
The following transformer types are most commonly specified for oil and gas facility electrical systems. Filter by kVA, voltage, or enclosure using the product search.
Isolation Transformers
3kVA to 750kVA Capacity
Encapsulated Isolation Transformers
0.25kVA to 150kVA Capacity
Autotransformers
3kVA to 1000kVA Capacity
Encapsulated Autotransformers
3kVA to 300kVA Capacity
Control Transformers
25VA to 5000VA Capacity
Motor Starters
10HP to 500HP Capacity
Mini Power Centers
5kVA to 45kVA Capacity
Recommended Specifications for Oil & Gas Applications
Use the following as a baseline specification reference. All oil and gas transformer specifications must be confirmed with the facility electrical engineer and comply with applicable hazardous area classification and process safety requirements.
Wellsite Battery / Single Well (ESP or rod pump) | 15 – 75 kVA |
Multi-Well Pad Battery | 75 – 300 kVA |
SAGD Well Pad (ESP-heavy) | 150 – 500 kVA |
Pipeline Pump Station (single pump) | 150 – 750 kVA |
Pipeline Compression Station (single compressor) | 150 – 750 kVA |
Large Compression Station (multiple units) | 500 kVA – 2,000 kVA+ |
Gas Plant / NGL Facility Auxiliary | 150 – 750 kVA |
Refinery Process Unit Substation | 300 – 1,000 kVA |
Remote Camp Power | 75 – 300 kVA |
Control Building / DCS Room | 15 – 75 kVA |
Flare & Safety System Feeds | 15 – 75 kVA (dedicated, isolated) |
Size at 125% of peak connected load. For motor starting, confirm that the transformer impedance is compatible with facility protection coordination. Remote and generator-backed facilities require special attention to available fault current for
Primary (Input) | 600V or 575V, 3-phase (standard Canadian oil and gas facility distribution) |
Secondary — MCC / Drive Panels | 480V or 208V, 3-phase |
Secondary — Facility Distribution | 120/208V or 120/240V, 3-phase or single-phase |
Secondary — Control / SCADA / ESD | 120V or 24V single-phase isolated |
US-Rated ESP & Compressor Equipment | 600V → 460V or 480V, 3-phase |
European Processing Equipment | 600V → 400V or 380V, 3-phase |
Taps | ±2.5% and ±5% — important on remote generator-backed facilities where voltage regulation varies |
NEMA 1 | Climate-controlled electrical buildings at staffed facilities — gas plants, compression stations, refineries |
NEMA 12 (Dust-tight) | Process areas with particulate — oil sands processing, dry gas facilities with airborne abrasives |
NEMA 3R (Rainproof) | Outdoor substation and electrical building exterior installations at staffed facilities |
Encapsulated | Remote wellsite batteries, outdoor pipeline facilities, locations with no heated electrical room, extreme cold exposure |
NEMA 4 / 4X | Wash-down process areas, offshore topsides, and coastal facilities with salt-laden atmosphere |
Note on Hazardous Areas | Transformers must NOT be located in classified (Division 1 or Division 2) hazardous areas — locate in non-hazardous electrical rooms at the area boundary |
Electrical Building (Staffed Facility) | Non-hazardous electrical room — NEMA 1, climate-controlled, at the Class/Division boundary |
Outdoor Substation Building | NEMA 3R — at larger facilities with dedicated outdoor substation enclosures |
Remote Wellsite (No Building) | Encapsulated in weatherproof cabinet — no climate control available; must handle full outdoor exposure |
Pipeline Right-of-Way Station | NEMA 3R or encapsulated depending on building availability — verify with station design |
Offshore / Marine | NEMA 4X — salt spray, humidity, and wash-down exposure; stainless hardware required |
Cold Climate | -40°C is common across Alberta, BC, and northern facilities — cold-temperature startup rating and enclosure heaters mandatory for outdoor installations |
Canadian Standard | CSA C22.2 No. 47 — mandatory for all Canadian oil and gas installations |
Hazardous Locations | CEC Section 18 and CSA C22.2 No. 30 govern hazardous location electrical equipment — transformers in non-hazardous rooms are NOT required to be Ex-rated, but location must be correctly classified |
Process Safety | Transformer location and sizing must be reviewed as part of facility HAZOP and electrical area classification study |
Alberta OHS | Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code and the Electrical Utilities Act govern Alberta oil and gas electrical installations |
BC Oil and Gas | BC Oil and Gas Activities Act and BCSA governs BC upstream and midstream electrical requirements |
US Projects | UL 506 / UL 1561 for US facilities; NEC Article 500 governs hazardous location classification for US oil and gas |
Pipeline Facilities | NEB / CER (Canada Energy Regulator) requirements apply to interprovincial pipeline facilities |
K-1 (Standard) | Simple resistive and motor loads at wellsites with rod pumps or basic pumping equipment only |
K-4 | Mixed loads at small compression stations and wellsite batteries with limited VFD content |
K-13 Recommended | Standard specification for all MCCs at compression stations, gas plants, and pipeline facilities with VFD-driven compressors and pumps |
K-20 | High-density VFD applications — large ESP wellpad facilities with many VFD drives, and UPS-fed control systems at major facilities |
Harmonic Sources | VFD drives on all compressors, pumps, and ESP systems; thyristor drives on large reciprocating compressors; UPS systems for DCS and safety systems; switch-mode power supplies in control buildings |
ESP Artificial Lift | Electric submersible pump VFD drives are a significant harmonic source — specify K-13 minimum for all transformers feeding ESP VFD panels |
Neutral Sizing | Double-sized neutral standard for K-13 and above — standard practice for oil and gas VFD-heavy facilities |
Any transformer feeding an MCC with ESP drives, gas compressor VFDs, or pipeline pump drives must be K-13 rated minimum. The cost of a correct K-13 specification is negligible compared to the production cost of a transformer failure at a remote facility.
Extreme Cold | Alberta and BC oil and gas sites commonly reach -40°C — cold-temperature startup ratings and enclosure heaters are non-negotiable for all outdoor electrical equipment |
H₂S Exposure | Sour gas facilities — H₂S attacks standard steel enclosures and copper; specify encapsulated units or coated NEMA 4 enclosures for areas with H₂S exposure |
Hydrocarbon Atmosphere | Transformers must be located outside classified hazardous areas — correct area classification is a safety requirement, not just a code compliance issue |
Pipeline Corrosion | Outdoor pipeline stations in wet and coastal environments — NEMA 3R minimum; NEMA 4X for coastal and offshore applications |
Vibration | Reciprocating compressor stations — significant vibration from compressor operation; specify vibration isolation pads for all transformers in compressor buildings |
Spare Units | Remote and unmanned facilities should stock a spare transformer — replacement lead times of 4–12 weeks are operationally unacceptable during a production outage |
Frequently Asked Questions — Oil & Gas
Where should a transformer be located in a facility with classified areas?
The transformer must be installed in a location that matches its certification and the facility’s area-classification drawings. Standard dry-type transformers are commonly placed in suitable non-classified electrical rooms unless specifically certified otherwise.
What size transformer do I need for a gas compression station?
Sizing depends on the connected auxiliary loads, compressor drives, motor starting, operating schedule, power factor, harmonics, and future expansion. Large compressor motors may require a separate starting study.
What transformer do I need for an ESP system?
The transformer must match the ESP drive’s voltage, kVA, harmonic profile, grounding, and operating requirements. K-factor or other drive-related features should be selected using the VFD manufacturer’s data.
Do I need a special transformer for a sour gas facility?
Potential H₂S exposure may require corrosion-resistant materials, encapsulation, coatings, or a sealed enclosure. Final selection should follow the facility’s environmental and area-classification requirements.
What transformer is suitable for a remote wellsite?
Encapsulated isolation transformers and encapsulated autotransformers may be suitable for remote installations exposed to moisture, dust, and temperature changes. The enclosure and temperature rating must match the site.
Can Transformer Source supply units for pipeline facilities?
Yes. Standard and custom dry-type transformers are available for pipeline auxiliary power, controls, voltage conversion, motor starting, and suitable remote applications.
What transformer is recommended for a DCS or SCADA building?
Isolation and control transformers can supply DCS, SCADA, communications, instrumentation, and safety systems. Final selection depends on the load, voltage, redundancy, grounding, and power-quality requirements.
How quickly can oil and gas transformers be delivered?
Delivery depends on voltage, capacity, phase, enclosure, certification, options, and inventory. Common configurations may be available sooner, while custom units require additional lead time.
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Ready to Specify Your Oil & Gas Transformer?
From remote wellsite batteries to major compression stations and refinery substations — our technical team works with oil and gas electrical engineers, EPC contractors, and operations teams to specify the right transformer for every application, correctly located relative to hazardous area boundaries.
Have this information ready:
- Facility type and segment (upstream wellsite, compression station, gas plant, refinery, pipeline)
- Motor HP or equipment kVA load and type (ESP VFD, compressor drive, pump, auxiliary)
- Primary voltage (600V, 575V, 480V, or generator output voltage)
- Required secondary voltage
- Hazardous area classification for the transformer location (confirm non-hazardous)
- Installation environment (electrical building, outdoor, remote wellsite, cold climate)
- VFD or harmonic loads present (K-factor requirement)
- Spare unit requirements for remote or unmanned facility stocking