Page 18 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 20th July 2020

OIL AND GAS...

Payback on pump retrofit

project is measured in weeks

Sulzer saves energy and reduces emissions for oil platform with revised pump design
recent move to further
reduce emissions caused
by excessive energy
Aconsumption has seen
the Norwegian government offering
funding to companies that lessen
their contribution to CO2 and NOx
figures. One oil platform in the
North Sea took the opportunity to
rerate two condensate export
pumps which would not only reduce
energy consumption but also
optimize performance for the
remaining life of the well.
Governments are issuing increasingly stringent Pump retrofits involve the upgrade or
targets for greenhouse gas emissions as well as modernization of existing equipment to improve
other pollutants, to encourage companies to take an reliability, increase efficiency, take advantage of
active role in improving our environment for the modern materials or, as in this case, adjust for a
future. Cutting energy consumption not only saves change in the process. This is a cost-effective
money, it also helps to extend our natural resources alternative to replacing equipment and can also
and reduces pollution. save a considerable amount of time.
Originally commissioned in 2001, the oil
Optimising performance platform in the North Sea had been in production
Oil and gas platforms use a large number of pumps for nearly 20 years. Over this time the application
for a range of applications. As the wells are profile of the pumps had changed, and some had
exploited so the pumping profile changes, and the become less efficient, while others were beginning
hydraulic design of the pumps may need to be to exhibit increased vibration due to low flow
revised to deliver the most efficient service. There conditions.
comes a point where the cost of a pump retrofit will The owners of the platform wanted to address
be recovered from the savings generated by these operational issues as well as reduce energy
improved performance. consumption, which would reduce operating costs.

July 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA! • p18