Commissioning compressors with gas seals

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States)

OSTI ID:7310315

Hallam, J L ^[1]

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1. Amoco (UK) Exploration Co., London (GB)

This paper reports that compressors using gas seals were successfully commissioned by Amoco (UK) Exploration Co. on a North Sea platform in 1989. At that time, these were some of the largest gas seals offshore. Although this was an offshore installation, the same commissioning procedures and lessons learned apply to most compressors with gas seals. During the 1980s, it was determined that additional compressors were required to maintain suction pressure to four existing natural gas compressors on a platform in the North Sea. In 1989, two new booster compressor trains driven by gas turbines were installed and commissioned. Each of the new compressor trains consists of two compressors in tandem, with a gas generator/power turbine driver. Each of the new trains is rated at 29,000 bhp (21,625 kW) at 4,822 rpm. The first stage horizontally split compressors, take suction between 50 and 80 psig (345 to 552 kpag). The second stage barrel compressors are designed to discharge at a constant 320 psig (2,206 kpag) to provide the pressure required by the existing main compressor trains varies between 440 MMscfd and 590 MMscfd (8,189 to 10,980 m{sup 3}/min) depending on suction pressure. Air coolers provided cooling between the first and second stage compressors, and after the second stage to cool the gas going to the main compressors.

• OSTI ID: 7310315
• Journal Information: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States), Journal Name: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States) Vol. 71:7; ISSN HYPRA; ISSN 0018-8190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
AIR FLOW
ATLANTIC OCEAN
COMPRESSORS
CONTROL
COOLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS COMPRESSORS
GAS FLOW
GAS FUELS
GASES
NATURAL GAS
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
PRESSURE CONTROL
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS