TURBOMACHINERY SELECTION PROCESSES FOR PIPELINE SERVICE REVISED AND UPDATED THROUGH INCORPORATION OF LESSONS LEARNED

摘要

In 1975 two companies were competing for the opportunity to design and build a major pipeline system to carry natural gas from the North Slope of Alaska and the Beaufort Delta to markets in Canada and the USA. The routes proposed and the design concepts differed between the companies but both required many large compressor stations and were in consequence a magnet to the gas turbine industry. Competition for a share in the potentially lucrative business was intense and attracted all of the major suppliers. Both heavy frame and aero-derivative units were offered and these came with varying degrees of operating experience. Some units were well proven in pipeline service while other units were no more than prototypes. The project had a high political profile with sponsors both in Canada and the United States, therefore, international as well as national interests were involved. The selection of the most appropriate compressor units for this project, became an issue of some importance. It therefore became necessary to develop a process that was not only technically and commercially rigorous but was also totally transparent. The development of this process is described in reference 1. One of the two competing pipeline companies was forced out of business in 1977 because of environmental and social and economic concerns related to the proposed route. The other company developed a more acceptable route, and although the total pipeline system from the Arctic was never constructed, a section from central Alberta to the 49th parallel was completed in 1982. Although this portion was small compared to the total filed system it did require the construction of four compressor stations. Since that time a great deal of operating experience has been gained and as a consequence some modifications are suggested to simplify and up date the selection process. The purpose of this Paper is to re-examine the methodology originally developed and review the results of decisions made then in relation to the subsequent experience gained through operation of the pipeline.