Turbine-Driven Centrifugal Compressors Successfully Used in Offshore Application
Authors: Marquez Philip R. , Thompson Robert S. , Kiker Robert D. 
Published: December 2007

This paper was prepared for the 48th Annual Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, to be held in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 1973. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is usually granted upon request to the Editor of the appropriate journal provided agreement to give proper credit is made.

Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines.

The Grand Isle Block 43 "AA" Complex, located approximately 20 miles offshore of Grand Isle, Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, is owned by the CAGC Marine Group (Continental Oil company, Atlantic Richfield Company, Getty oil Company, and cities Service Oil Company). This unique five-platform complex utilizes twelve (12) 1200 HP (ISO rating) turbine-driven centrifugal compressors as an integral part of its handling process. six (6) compressors are operated in parallel as first stage machines (180–220 psig suction pressure) and six (6) in parallel as second pressure) and six (6) in parallel as second stage machines (450–490 psig suction pressure) The first and second stage compressors operate in series with a final designed discharge pressure of 1100 psig. These compressors pressure of 1100 psig. These compressors were installed in sets of six (6) units each. The first set of compressors has been in operation for three years. The second set of units was recently installed and has been in operation since February 19, 1973. Two (2) of the new units (one first stage and one second stage) have been modified for dual service. They can selectively be used for normal operation or as low pressure (90–100 psig suction pressure) booster compressors psig suction pressure) booster compressors to recover flashed gas and discharge it to the suction of the main station.

Operating data for the initial set of units is presented along with a discussion of the facility design. The applicability of turbine-driven centrifugal type compressors in offshore operations is shown by the operating cost and performance data of these units.

Introduction

Gas turbine driven equipment has found increasing acceptance throughout the petroleum industry, particularly in offshore petroleum industry, particularly in offshore operations. The Grand Isle Block 43 "AA" Complex utilizes fifteen gas turbines in its operation. Twelve are used to drive centrifugal gas compressors and three to drive centrifugal pumps. This paper presents the design of both compressor packages presents the design of both compressor packages and reviews the first three years operation of the initial six units. A discussion of the facility design criteria and process flow is also given.

The Grand Isle Block 43 "AA" Complex is a five-platform complex which was designed during the winter of 1967 and put on stream during the winter of 1969.