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Exhaustive study saves millions on North Sea platform
(05/04/01) Almost US$9 million of value has been created from accelerated gas delivery on a Shell Expro North Sea platform complex with the help of Shell Global Solutions' fluid-flow specialists. They have modeled how, in unfavorable wind conditions, hot gases from one platform exhaust duct affect the intake air used for a second vital process, and then identified a cost-effective solution to remove the interference.
"The value is created through the accelerated gas delivery at the complex. This has been achieved by repositioning the exhaust vents from power generation turbines. Previously the exhaust gases were being blown into the main gas compression turbine air intakes," says Peter Cornelisse of Shell Global Solutions' fluid-flow and thermodynamics team.
"As the platform's production and accompanying gas throughput have risen to maximum capacity, it was noted that an increase in air intake temperature of 10°C reduced the power output of each compressor turbine by 1MW. Under south to southwesterly wind conditions, we were able to prove that exhaust gases from the power units were being blown towards to the compressor power turbine air intakes and causing a rise of 15°C above ambient. Since repositioning of the ducts, the temperature rise is only 6°C, which is quite acceptable and a vast improvement.
"We use a computational fluid dynamic simulation program that enables us to create envelopes of local air activity. These clearly show when invisible exhaust movements around a platform are causing unseen efficiency losses. We can also generate and verify optimal conditions. Where these cannot be implemented in practice because of the complications of platform design, we can still show configurations that are more favorable than the existing ones."
Now the team is becoming involved in initial platform design. Shell Expro has asked it to identify the best exhaust and intake positioning for an extension to its cluster of platforms in the SPOTS North Sea complex.
Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij BV, the Dutch exploration and production company, has also recognized the benefits of the Shell Global Solutions' approach.
It has asked for reports into the interrelationship - and best practice - for positioning vents from its interstate coolers and discharge gases with respect to the intakes for gas compression turbines on some of its platforms in the North Sea.
Source: Shell Global Solutions
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