Harnessing technology to drive emissions reductions
OPEX Group has used advanced data analysis techniques to help an operator optimise gas compression performance on a UKCS asset. As part of a series of sustained operational improvements this saved 2MW of power and reduced CO2 emissions by over 3,000 tonnes.
The Challenge
Improving system reliability on the asset and reducing the number of system shutdowns.
Specifically, the customer had been experiencing operational problems on gas compression with fouling of the suction cooler, which had an adverse impact on the compressor dry gas seal flow – the fouling had required a number of opportunity-based system shutdowns.
The Response
OPEX Group had deployed its X-PAS™ services across several asset systems to deliver on its core objective: transforming customers’ operational data into actionable insights.
In-depth analysis of the same data sources – part of the core service – often pinpoints system performance improvement opportunities in the areas of energy efficiency and carbon emissions.
Modelling and analysis of key operational data revealed specific measures to address the issues associated with the gas compression systems.
The Result
The process yielded a series of positive outcomes:
· The polytropic efficiency and optimum operating envelope of the compressors were clearly established
· The intrinsic resistance and high differential pressure (dp) of the suction cooler was reduced
· Stable dry gas seal supply was established
· Gas turbine power requirements were optimised
· The reduction in suction cooler dp has extended the time interval for exchanger cleaning
It helped the operator to realise a 2MW reduction in gas turbine load, a 13% improvement in polytropic efficiency, an annual saving of over 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, £100,000 additional gas export revenue per year, and an annual EU ETS (Emissions Trading System) saving of over £60,000.
‘in-depth analysis of the same data sources… often pinpoints system performance improvement opportunities in the areas of energy efficiency and carbon emissions’
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