Upstream and Midstream Compression Applications: Part 1—Applications

Author(s):  
Rainer Kurz ◽  
Klaus Brun

The upstream and midstream sectors of the oil and gas business require compression for a number of distinctly different applications, such as transmission, storage, gas gathering, gas lift, gas export, gas injection, flash gas compression, and refrigeration. This paper explains the purpose of and requirements for these applications within the context of oil and gas production and the transport of natural gas to the consumer. Typical operating requirements for the gas compressors, and typical solutions to meet these requirements are introduced.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Ikenna Tobechukwu Okorocha ◽  
Chuka Emmanuel Chinwuko ◽  
Chika Edith Mgbemena ◽  
Chinedum Ogonna Mgbemena

Gas Lift operation involves the injection of compressed gas into a low producing or non-performing well to maximize oil production. The oil produced from a gas lift well is a function of the gas injection rate. The optimal gas injection rate is achieved by optimization. However, the gas lift, which is an artificial lift process, has some drawbacks such as the deterioration of the oil well, incorrect production metering, instability of the gas compressor, and over injection of gas. This paper discusses the various optimization techniques for the gas lift in the Oil and Gas production process. A systematic literature search was conducted on four databases, namely Google Scholar, Scopus, IEE Explore and DOAJ, to identify papers that focused on Gas lift optimizations. The materials for this review were collected primarily via database searches. The major challenges associated with gas lift were identified, and the different optimization strategies available in the literature reviewed. The strategies reviewed were found to be based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The implementation of any of the optimization strategies for the gas lift will enhance profitability, reduce operational cost, and extend the life of the wells.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameria Eviany ◽  
Ifani Ramadhani ◽  
Cio Mario ◽  
Anang Nugrahanto ◽  
Harris Pramana ◽  
...  

Abstract The two most common challenges on the oil and gas production today are the flowing production under natural pressure depletion and the surface facility capacity limitation. Ujung Pangkah field is no exception regarding finding a method to overcome this problem. It compelled to embolden many strategies to ensure the continuity of oil and gas production. Production enhancement initiatives were delivered through both Subsurface and Surface sides. SAKA Energi Indonesia, as the operator of Pangkah PSC, proved that Surface Modification approach increased the oil and gas production. Historically, gas lift injection dependency in all production wells force a continuous operation of Gas Lift Compressor (GLC) unit to supply gas lift. However, GLC as a production backbone is no longer sustainable, it has reached its maximum limit and unable to fulfil the gas lift rate requirement for all wells. Furthermore, the changing flowing conditions – low gas feeding - from wells are relatable to most of the critical surface equipment. Considering all the challenges faced in Ujung Pangkah field, SAKA developed initiatives on MP Compressor and GLC configuration by performing compressors restaging. The equipment modifications started out with restaging the MP Compressor (MPC) that led to MP Separator operating pressure reduction – from 22 barg down to 16 barg. Pressure changes on MP Separator also directly affected the GLC system since it works on the same pipeline header. Technical assessment analysis for other corresponding equipment were performed to verify if each of the equipment's operating boundary could accommodate lower pressure at the facility. Compressor restaging has direct and indirect impacts. The direct impacts are decrease in suction pressure, increase in gas lift rates, and decrease in flowing of suction pressure due to the pressure at wellhead. The indirect impact is production gain from wells by lowering the wellhead pressure. Particularly in the pressure depletion case, this initiative could extend the lifetime of the wells. Production gain was quantified after compressor restaging and pressure system lower to 16 barg. The gain from this method was 3 MMscfd and ~400 BOPD.


Author(s):  
Steve Ingistov

This Paper describes the on-going efforts of finding the root-cause for the failures of high-energy (over 30,000 HP), high-pitch velocity (over 30,000 FPM) gear elements. These gear elements are presently operating in Oil and Gas Production Facilities. They are installed between the GT drivers and turbo-compressors. Turbo-compressors deliver high-pressure gas into the underground oil fields to enhance the oil production. The oldest Gas Compression Units were commissioned in 1995 and the latest in 1998. Since installation in 1995 at least 6 gear boxes experienced failures of the pinion (high speed gear) teeth. The Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of the pinion teeth was estimated around 34,000 operating hours. The costly shutdown of Gas Compression Units forced the management to seek advice within the company. The intent of this Paper is to share some field experiences and to present some corrective actions. The intent of this Paper is also to help Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in this case gear elements Manufacturers to develop better balance between cost, life and reliability. Sometimes the balance between these three parameters is difficult to maintain. Too often the gear elements Manufacturers are forced to compete on the price basis and as result the quality of the gear elements are sometimes compromised. In addition, several well-known gear elements Manufacturers stopped offering high energy, high-pitch velocity gear elements because they suffered serious failures of the gear elements on the test stand and also in the field.


Author(s):  
Rene Nsanzineza ◽  
Jana Milford

Across the U.S., electricity production from coal-fired generation is declining while use of renewables and natural gas is increasing. This trend is expected to continue in the future. In the Rocky Mountain region, this shift is expected to reduce emissions from electricity production while increasing emissions from the production and processing of oil and gas, with significant implications for the level, location, and timing of the air pollution emissions that are associated with these activities. In turn, these emissions changes will affect air quality in the region, with impacts on ground-level ozone of particular concern. This study aims to evaluate the tradeoffs in emissions from both power plants and oil and gas basins resulting from contrasting scenarios for shifts in electricity and oil and gas production through the year 2030. The study also incorporates federal and state-level regulations for CH4, NOx, and VOC emissions sources. These regulations are expected to produce significant emissions reductions relative to baseline projections, especially in the oil and gas production sector. Annual emissions from electricity production are estimated to decrease in all scenarios, due to a combination of using more natural gas power plants, renewables, emissions regulations, and retiring old inefficient coal power plants. However, reductions are larger in fall, winter, and spring than in summer, when ozone pollution is of greatest concern. Emissions from oil and gas production are estimated to either increase or decrease depending on the location, scenario, and the number of sources affected by regulations. The net change in emissions thus depends on pollutant, location, and time of year.


Author(s):  
Erica Vanessa Albuquerque de Oliveira ◽  
Priscila Raquel Kazmierczak

The Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (Agência Nacional do Petróleo Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis - ANP) is the regulatory body responsible to regulate, contract and supervise the activities that integrates oil, natural gas and biofuels industry in Brazil, including the onshore and offshore pipelines. With this intent, ANP’s Resolution n° 06/2011, Technical Regulation of Onshore Pipelines for the Transport of Petroleum, its Derivatives and Natural Gas (Regulamento Técnico de Dutos Terrestres para Movimentação de Petróleo, Derivados e Gás Natural - RTDT), was published, establishing the essential critical requirements and the minimum safety directives for onshore pipelines, aiming at the protection of human life, facilities, and environment. The Technical Regulation covers onshore pipelines, new and existing ones, acting on the transference of the oil and gas production in the Brazilian jurisdiction and it is also applied on design, construction, assembling, operation, inspection, maintenance, integrity management, emergency response and decommissioning of the pipelines. Currently, ANP is elaborating a normative instrument applied to offshore pipelines, intending to establish the essential critical requirements for its safety management system. This paper presents an evaluation of the RTDT after its publication, including the improvements that will be concern with the review of the Resolution, and also gives an overview of the elaboration of the normative instrument for offshore pipelines.


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