GE Energy completes first phase of upgrade project at Trinidad LNG
plant
Posted: 21 January 2004
GE Energy has completed the first phase of an upgrade project
to increase the performance of one of the turbo compressor trains
operating in Atlantic LNG Company's Port Fortin, Trinidad production
facility.
Atlantic LNG's goal was to increase the production and efficiency
of the oldest turbo compressor train in the Port Fortin facility
to match the performance of two newer trains at the plant. The two
newer trains are driven by the latest technology GE MS5002D gas
turbines while the older train, unit #1 at the plant, consists of
two parallel lines composed of six turbo compressors driven by GE
MS5002C gas turbines.
GE Energy's oil and gas group recommended upgrading the older propane,
ethylene and methane gas turbines from model C to the D configuration.
The D retrofit will increase the gas turbine output by more than
10%. The main modifications are the replacement of the compressor
station and the use of advanced technology and material for high-pressure
packing, buckets, bearings and shrouds.
In addition, GE proposed rebundling the ethylene compressors to
take full advantage of the added power of the upgraded gas turbines.
In order to increase efficiency, installation of a new third-stage
volute was proposed for the propane compressors. This modification
in the two parallel lines of unit #1 will increase LNG production
by 4.6%.
GE proposed a project plan to reduce downtime and limit lost production
that would upgrade the gas turbines and compressors during two partial
shutdowns of 23 days each.
The challenge for the GE team was to complete the upgrade of one
of the unit #1 lines while the other line continued to run. With
this approach, the train would continue production at 57% output
during the upgrade activity.
The first shutdown was successfully completed in September, 2003.
Gas turbine modifications, propane and ethylene compressor upgrades
and the major inspection of methane compressors were performed in
23 days, as scheduled. The upgrade of the second line in unit #1
will be performed in April of 2004.
Atlantic LNG was formed by the initiative of the National Gas Company,
with international partners BP, BG, Repsol and Cabot (Cabot's share
subsequently was sold to Tractebel), to utilize Trinidad and Tobago's
natural gas resources in the production of liquefied natural gas.
Train 1 was the first LNG plant in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.
Trains 2 and 3 are now in production, and Train 4 is under construction.
The total capacity places Trinidad and Tobago among the top five
producers of LNG in the world.
GE Energy's oil and gas operations are based in Florence, Italy,
the home of Nuovo Pignone, a long-time global leader in gas compression
and turbo generation products. GE acquired Nuovo Pignone in 1994
and since then has continued to expand its oil and gas portfolio
by acquiring or developing partnerships with other technology and
experience leaders in the industry.
About GE Energy
GE Energyis one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation
technology, energy services and management systems with 2002 revenues
of nearly $23 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides
equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation,
oil and gas, distributed power and energy rental industries.
For more information see www.gepower.com
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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