COMPRESSION OF NATURAL GAS

Jn Steinar Gumundsson
TPG4140 Natural Gas
September 17, 2012
Compression in oil and gas production
Types of compressors (piston and centrifugal)
Characteristic curves
Adiabatic and reversible (=isentropic) compression
Real vs. ideal, isentropic head, polytropic compression
Surge and stonewall
Compression in stages (inter-cooling)
System curves and parallel/series service
Compression in Oil and Gas Production
Recompression in separation train of gas and
condensate (same as in oil production).
Export compression (from platform to pipeline).
Reinjection compression (from platform to subsurface).
Various air compressors for control equipment in
processing facilities (offshore and onshore).
Export compression, from receiving and processing
terminal to pipeline.
Pressure boosting, onland compression.
Gas storage in salt caverns.
Subsea compression (soon to be installed)
A: Recompression, B: Gas Drying, C: Fuel Gas, D: Export Compression,
E: Gas Pipeline, F: Injection Compression, G: Injection Well
Compressor
Station
Compressor
Station
Production
32,000 Compressors
Processing
5,000 Compressors
Transmission & Storage
8,500 Compressors
Distribution
0 Compressors
Compressor
Station
USA Natural Gas Industry
CO
2
Emissions Norway
Oil and gas industry 29 %, Cars and trucks 22 %, Industry processes 18 %, Heating 16 %, Boats
and ships 9 %, Other sources 6 %
Gas Turbines Offshore Norway 2007
Offshore Gas Turbines
The oil and gas industry in 2007 represented 25 % of CO
2
emissions
in Norway.
At that time, the requirement for electricity offshore was 15 TWh
(Norways total electricity production was then about 125 TWh).
In 2007 there were 167 gas turbines on offshore installations
amounting to 3000 MW.
About 45 % of the power is for electrical equipment. The remaining
power is for compressors and other equipment.
The thermal efficiency of the gas turbines is in the range 30-37 %.
Thermal recovery is used in most of the installations, increasing the
thermal efficiency to about 40 %
Kraft fra land til norsk sokkel (2008), OD o.a.
Simplistic Gas Turbines Working Principles
1-2 Isentropic compression (in a compressor)
2-3 Constant pressure heat addition (in a combustor)
3-4 Isentropic expansion (in a turbine)
4-1 Constant pressure heat rejection
6
Kristin Prosess
18.3 MSm/sd
210 bar
50C
Pcric <105 barg
Kristin
GT
sgard Transport
Meter
Scavenger, back-up
Fuel Gas
87 bar
121C
26C
31C
25C
Meter
TVP 0.965bar @ 30C
sgard C
26 bar
2 bar
20000 Sm3/sd
67 bar
70C
30C 30C
30C
Types of Compressors
Reciprocating piston compressors
Low flow rate
High compression ratio
Rotating centrifugal compressors
High flow rate
Low compression ratio each stage
Several stages higher compression ratio
Axial Flow Compressor
Radial Flow Compressor
Centrifugal Compressor
Reciprocating Compressor
Twin Screw Compressor for Subsea
Subsea Compressor
Usage of Compressors
Characteristic Curve
Characteristic Curves
A: Centrifugal, B: Axial,
C: Piston, D: Screw
Left: Radial,
Middel: xxx,
Right:Axia
Thermodynamic Processes
k=C
p
/C
v
k=0
k=1
k=C
p
/C
v
k<n
k=
dq=0
dp=0
dT=0
ds=0
ds=0
dV=0
Adiabatic
Isobaric
Isothermal
Isentropic
Polytropic
Isometric
Exponent Condition Process
Reversible adiabatic process = Isentropic process
Compressor Work
}
=
2
1
vdp W
A = Suction, B = Compression, C =Delivery, D = Expansion
Piston Compressor
The Carnot Cycle
Adiabatic/Isentropic Process
nRT pV =
RT pv =
v
p
C
C
k =
k
k
p
p
T
T
1
1
2
1
2

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
k k
v p v p
2 2 1 1
=
Adiabatic/Isentropic Compression
}
=
2
1
vdp W
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

=

1
1
1
1
2
1 1
k
k
p
p
k
k
v p W
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

=

1
1
1
1
2
1
k
k
p
p
k
k
RT
M
m
P
v [m3/mol], p [Pa=N/m2], W [Nm/mol=J /mol] =Specific work
pv=RT, Wm/M [J /mol kg/s mol/kg=J /s=W] =Power
nRT pV =
RT pv =
Ideal, Real, Efficiency, Head,
Polytropic
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
|
|
.
|

\
|

1
1
1
1
2
1
p
k
k
p
p
p
k
k
RT
M
m
P
q
q
8 , 0 6 , 0 < <
p
q
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

=

1
1
1
1
2 1
k
k
s
p
p
k
k
M
RT
h
q
1
ideal real
P P =
h
s
[J /kg]
p
k
k
n
n
q
1 1
=

P [W=J /s]
Surge and Stone Wall
A: Surge line, B: Stonewall line
Surge Control
Compression in Two Stages
2
3
1
2
p
p
p
p
=
3 1 2
p p p =
Above pressures give
minimum power
Intercooling
System Characteristic
Scaling Laws
Isentropic Head Example
0,0
10,0
20,0
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 20000
q [m3/h]
h
_
S

[
k
J
/
k
g
]
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
1 1
2 2
1 2
d N
d N
q q
2
1 1
2 2
1 2
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
d N
d N
h h
3
1 1
2 2
1 2
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
d N
d N
P P
6000, 7000 and 8000 RPM
Parallel and Series
Summary
Recompression, export compression, reinjection
compression
Reciprocating piston compressors and rotating
centrifugal compressors (radial and axial)
Characteristic curves P [W] or h [J/kg] vs. q [m3/h]
Calculation of compression power (isentropic)
Efficiency and polytropic compression
Surge (solved by recycle) and stonewall (speed of
sound)
Compression in stages with intercooling (minimum
power when equal power)
System curves (the need) and >1 compressor
List of companies and their products
Industrial Aero-derivatives
Overhaul Life 48,000 hours 30,000 hours
Hot section inspection 8000 hours 6000 hours
Overhaul Life On-site Gas generator removal
Engine weight Heavy Duty Light
Fast start capability No Yes
Tolerance to poor fuel Fair Poor
Ease of automation Good Good
Suitable for off-shore Fair Good
Power Up to 325 MW Up to 55 MW
Thermal Efficiency 25-39% 25-42%
Difference between Heavy Duty and Aeroderivative Turbines
Evolution of products : Uprates