Variable-speed ac drive targets compressor efficiency on Exxon wells

Journal Article · Mon Jun 02 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5758811

Installation of a variable-speed ac motor drive at an Exxon U.S.A. reciprocating compressor collection facility is an effort to increase motor efficiency and service life and to save energy costs. The compressor is used in the recovery of 1.5 MMcfd of natural gas at Exxon's Sabine Lake onshore collection facility, Bridge City, Texas, which is near Port Arthur. The facility is a collection center for gas wells located 7 miles away in Sabine Lake. The compressor unit, in operation since January 1984, is designed eventually to recover approximately 3 MMcfd of natural gas. The facility primarily serves as a central collection point for the condensate and natural gas produced by the wells. As condensate and gas flow into the collection site in two separate pipelines, the gas is sent to sales through a sales meter. The condensate is reduced in pressure, causing a flash gas to be given off, and stored in storage tanks. The flash gas is compressed and mixed with sales gas. Before the energy crisis in the 1970s, flash gas produced from this type of facility burned off to the atmosphere. With the energy crisis, it became profitable to design systems to recover the gas. The normal method of flash gas recovery has been to compress the gas with a compressor sized for the maximum expected flow and put it into a pipeline for transportation.

• OSTI ID: 5758811
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 84:22; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ALTERNATING CURRENT
COMPRESSION
COMPRESSORS
CONDENSATES
CURRENTS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS COMPRESSORS
GAS CONDENSATES
GAS FUELS
GAS YIELDS
GASES
LIQUIDS
MIXING
MOTORS
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NORTH AMERICA
PIPELINES
SERVICE LIFE
STORAGE FACILITIES
TEXAS
TRANSPORT
USA
WELLS
YIELDS