We are a part of energy-hungry world, particularly oil and natural gas.
Since last two decades, oil prices have been on the constant surge, approximately 30-40% steeper than natural gas. These increasing figures makes one stop, take a step back and reassess the power generation methods available at one’s disposal. And, yes, oil to gas conversion is a huge transformation and can be utterly overwhelming since several factors right from scratch must be considered with the utmost care. Here, at Innovative Automation Pvt. Ltd. Pune, we have gathered relevant information pertaining to this, to ease your decision-making process.
WHO IS THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS - OIL OR NATURAL GAS?
SWITCHING FROM OIL TO GAS:
Benefits of switching from oil to gas, but not limited to:
- More affordable and economical than Oil. The cost to convert from oil to gas heat saves up to 30% on fuel costs. Consequently, natural gas systems tend to generate lower energy bills.
- On using natural gas-fired apparatus, it enhances the life of combustion equipment making it more durable. This, in turn results in reduced maintenance and higher productivity.
- Natural gas Pipelines are the safest mode of transporting it than oil. This in turn curbs potential hazards relating to it.
- Advantage of Clean Combustion: Applications which are forced to employ indirect method of heating using oil fuels can save 15% to 20% of heat losses by direct fired method with Gas Fuels.
- More Eco-friendly and produces 30% less Carbon Dioxide than oil which makes it more environmentally cleaner. Natural gas is the cleanest burning conventional fuel producing no sulphur oxide and particulate matter and thus improves the local air quality.
- Improved Product quality in systems with carbon and sulphur sensitive applications.
Thus, it is the perfect alternative to oil-extracted fuels.

IS OIL TO GAS CONVERSION REALLY WORTH IT?
KEY BENEFITS OF OIL TO GAS CONVERSION
COST COMPARISON OF FUELS:
In the long haul, oil to natural gas conversion will most definitely prove to be cost effective. However, the initial cost conversion may seem expensive, but one must be conscious of the fact this is one time long term investment. One must consider the cost of action and inaction. Oil prices will continue to rise while cost of natural gas will remain considerably flat.
LOAD ON YOUR POCKET
FACTORS THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR SERVICE COST:
- Gas line availability from the main line to your factory
- Age of your heating system
- Installation of chimney to vent out the gas exhaust
- Replacing oil-fired equipment to gas-fired equipment
- Periodic maintenance of the system through trained professionals
BENEFITS THAT YOU’LL ENJOY ONCE YOU SAY GOODBYE TO OIL FIRED EQUIPMENT:
- Maintenance of gas heating system is easier and less expensive than the oil-fired one. Hassle free operation that is no more changing nozzles or filters of the oil tank, yearly chimney cleaning, periodic cleaning of burners and combustion chamber, oil spills and messy environment around the equipment etc.
- Heating oil needs to be transported to your facility via trucks and may get delayed due to several logistical issues. This leads to surprise fuel outages. On the contrary, natural gas is distributed via pipelines and it is the safest, cleanest, most reliable mode of transportation
- Natural gas heating has better speed and controllability than oil heating.
- The age old oil heating tanks are often noisy and release unpleasant smells. The much recent natural gas fired systems operate more quietly without releasing any smells. Furthermore, they take up less space.
Stay tuned for the next blog which talks about numbers, statistics and how this conversion is the real game changer.
OIL TO GAS CONVERSION FOR GOOD - A REAL GAME CHANGER
India hosts the world’s fastest evolving energy market. Let’s have a look at certain statistics and the nation’s position in the gas sector. India is the fourth largest importer of liquefied natural gas and third largest energy consumer. Gas Consumption CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate- 2007-16) is registered at 2.30%.
Natural gas is one of the highly efficient forms of energy and is eco-friendly. Several advantages discussed in previous blogs, supersede any other forms of natural energy source.
Thus it is quite necessary and useful in bridging the supply-demand energy gap in the country.
At present about 16,788 km natural gas pipeline is operational and about 14,239 km gas pipelines are under development.

Owing to the abundance of natural gas reserves and ongoing progress, the potential of natural gas as a replacement for gasoline and diesel should not be underestimated. We should see affordable natural gas prices well into the foreseeable future. Oil to gas conversion would result in significant savings since it is predicted that the natural gas prices would stay flat.
Don’t wait for your old oil furnace or boiler to stop working - reap the benefits of using natural gas right now - the comfort, price, reliability.
IAPL is strategic in correct selection and sizing of the equipment and thus offers approved and quality safety equipment and controls. The highly experienced team of qualified and skilled conversion experts at IAPL will walk you through the entire process, schedule and oversee your Natural Gas Conversion project.
We request you to contact us for more information and to help you figure out your estimating energy savings - sales@iaplindia.com

FINALLY, SHOULD I UPGRADE MY HEATING SYSTEMS TO NATURAL GAS?
Yes. Definitely, yes.
Switching from the traditional method of using oil for combustion to natural gas, one can enjoy several benefits such as:
- The cost to convert from oil to gas heat saves up to 30% on fuel costs. Consequently, natural gas systems tend to generate lower energy bills. More affordable and economical than Oil.
- On using natural gas-fired apparatus, it enhances the life of combustion equipment making it more durable. This, in turn results in reduced maintenance and higher productivity.
- Natural gas Pipelines are the safest mode of transporting it than oil. This in turn curbs potential hazards relating to it.
- Advantage of Clean Combustion: Applications which are forced to employ indirect method of heating using oil fuels can save 15% to 20% of heat losses by direct fired method with Gas Fuels.
- 90% Energy System Efficiency.
- More Eco-friendly and produces 30% less Carbon Dioxide than oil which makes it more environmentally cleaner. Natural gas is the cleanest burning conventional fuel producing no sulphur oxide and particulate matter and thus improves the local air quality.
- Improved Product quality in systems with carbon and Sulphur sensitive applications.

Here is a detailed roadmap of how a PNG Conversion enquiry turns into an order and the final installation and commission at IAPL works.
Oil to Gas Conversion: A journey
- Enquiry is generated for Oil to Gas Conversion
- Our Engineer visits the site to collect following information;
- Collect details of Oil Fired equipment like Heat Output, Type of Oil Used, and type of controls installed.
- Gas company MRS capacity and Outlet Pressure of MRS.
- Pipeline routing (if applicable)
- Burner Mounting details (if applicable)
- Requirements for Gas Leak Detection and Flow metering system
- We calculate the Gas Flow requirement based upon provided data.
- We size the Gas Trains as per Inlet and Outlet Pressure and Flow. Also, Size the Burners and Pipeline if applicable.
- Offer is submitted to customer along with Technical specification sheets of all items.
- Post Techno-commercial discussions Customer releases the PO on us.
- Our Engineering team verifies all sizing data and system parameters. They then design and prepares the Drawings for Gas Train, Control Panel, Pipeline layout as applicable.
- The drawings are submitted to customer for approval.
- Post approval the drawings are released for manufacturing, procurement action is done and manufacturing is completed under close observation of IAPL QC department.
- In case of Piping the material is dispatched to site, where our Team executes the laying and fabrication of the piping system.
- After completion of manufacturing IAPL Testing department test the performance of equipment at IAPL Flow Testing lab. They simulate the Operating and Min. / Max. Limit conditions as per site data to ensure that the equipment will deliver at site as expected. In case of piping the leakage test are done at site with Nitrogen. Test Certificate for the respective equipment is generated.
- Post inspection (optional) and clearance from customer the manufactured goods are dispatched to site.
- Under supervision of IAPL engineers the old Oil System is removed and new Gas System is installed at site and commissioned. System is set for optimal performance.
- System operation is demonstrated to customer and 1 day operator training is conducted at site by IAPL.
- System is handed over to customer for operation along with all drawings and equipment manuals.
