DENVER–Rapid compression capacity expansions in gas gathering systems in unconventional resource plays, followed by the commodity price downturn, has driven the need to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs. This challenge is compounded by the effects that highly dynamic upstream field conditions have on gathering compressors, especially when fed by multiple wells in large-scale field developments. Given variable well conditions and the design parameters of the types of compressors used in gathering–relatively small-capacity, multistage units with minimal automation to allow for portability from one location to another–average throughput utilization of gathering compressor fleets can be poor unless the units are adjusted continuously. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. Initiated a compressor optimization program last year to safely increase utilization and gathering system performance through advanced monitoring and active operator engagement. The program was implemented in the company’s Greater Wattenberg Area in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, achieving an overall 10-15 percent increase in station throughput. The greater capacity has enabled increased base production despite a decrease in drilling and completion activity.

The program now is being deployed in all Anadarko gathering assets. Maximizing Capacity With this knowledge, the modeling effort focused first on illustrating the inefficiencies, and then on developing a procedure to safely adjust compressors to maximize capacity. Figure 1B shows the safe operating envelope for the 3606 package at rated speed and a typical discharge pressure. The boundaries of the operating envelope are defined as minimum (fully-closed VVCP) and maximum clearance (fully-open VVCP), and rated power (maximum compressor power with site-rated driver power/auxiliary power) and minimum power (minimum compressor power because of driver stability and reliability).

In addition to driver site rating and VVCP design volumes, the safe operating envelope may be reduced by rod load, volumetric efficiency, discharge temperature, and other limitations. The operating envelope shows that the 3606 package could achieve a maximum of 12.1 million cubic feet a day at site-rated power, rated speed and maximum safe suction pressure (minimum compression ratio). Also illustrated in Figure 1B is the typical operating point found near the nominal throughput of 10 MMcf/d for the 3606 package. Thus, with the high field pressure seen at the time, an increase of approximately 2 MMcf/d per compressor could be achieved by adjusting suction control set points and VVCP positions appropriately. Logic Pro 9 Crack Tpb Proxy. VVCPs can provide infinitely variable clearance and often are installed on cylinders in different stages. If one is not careful with adjusting VVCPs on different stages, load and differential pressures can become imbalanced, leading to equipment damage from excessive rod load, low volumetric efficiency, or high discharge temperature.

Pdf files for Ariel compressor specifications SharedManuals.com. Unloading Devices - Manual head-end variable volume clearance pockets, pneumatic fixed volume. Efficient Valving - Ariel uses plate-type valves designed for modern speeds utilizing. The JGR and JGJ are medium-sized, driver-rated, separable, reciprocating compressors and are well-suited for gas gathering in.