Specialist Services Provided by MSE

With a team of highly qualified and experienced engineers, backed by a broad range of expertise, MSE has a reputation for challenging the conventional approaches. We aim to provide innovative and cost effective solutions, which consistently exceed client expectations.

MSE has been developing innovative software solutions which are tailor made for client assets. This "project specific" modelling approach has been successfully applied to many major UK Assets resulting in significant production enhancement and extension of the asset life.

MSE provides the following key Specialist Services:

Mature Gas Compression Systems Re-design and Optimisation

For mature oil and gas assets, gas compressors are usually a major bottleneck and are a constant source of lost production through recurrent equipment failures. These failures are caused by a variety of reasons such as:
 

	Compressor surging
	High discharge temperature
	High radial vibration high axial displacement
	A combination of the above factors

This is an area where clients frequently call on our specialist services to help to optimise production. For mature assets the production is in decline which is exacerbated by poorly performing older legacy compression equipment.

The compressors and drivers, which may have been installed a long time ago (often 30 - 35 years) prove difficult to operate, have poor availability history and fail frequently but cannot be replaced for commercial or practical reasons. Here, MSE provides a range of practical cost effective solutions to improve production, increase equipment reliability reduce downtime.

MSE carries out field tests; it builds a bespoke integrated model of the production facility and performs rigorous simulations to determine the root cause of recurring problems before recommending a series of measures which will usually have been tried on projects elsewhere with success.

MSE develops practical and cost effective solutions, which do not require extended plant shut down. These solutions, which are project specific, normally include change of control system, re-wheeling of compressor internals, engine upgrades with training of personnel.

MSE has wide ranging experience of production optimisation through compressor re-design, which is both cost effective and practical. A compressor re-design involving re-wheeling is straightforward as MSE provides engineering support and consultancy work for our clients, for new projects as well as existing "mature" oil and gas assets.

The re-design does not require a change of casing, piping or the gas turbine engine. This is achieved by optimising the impeller aerodynamics (using more efficient impellers) which better match the changing flows and pressures resulting in higher compressor efficiency. The power thus released is then used to increase flow capacity which eliminates surging of compressors and reduces discharge temperatures, all of which combine to improve equipment reliability and availability.

Gas Turbine Consultancy

Gas Turbines are extensively used as mechanical drive and for power generation in the Oil & Gas Industry. These machines are one of the costliest equipment items to buy and have high maintenance costs.

Gas Turbines operate at high firing temperatures and need to be properly maintained to achieve their rated power.

The gas turbine performance is highly sensitive to compressor fouling resulting in engine power loss requiring frequent compressor washing.

Gas Turbine compressors require high quality air filtration to retain compressor performance. These engines require frequent inspection and refurbishment and overhauls at regular intervals as specified by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The engine performance is also affected by ambient temperatures and falls off at higher air temperatures. Engine control systems are installed to schedule the inlet guide vanes for operation at part loads and during start-up and during load transients.

MSE Consultants have developed sophisticated software systems to carry out performance assessment of engines during normal operation and can determine if the engine is providing the expected power. If the engine power is less than the engine rating it affects the capacity of the compressors which will be reduced accordingly. In some cases the reduction in power can result in surging of compressors which is very damaging for the machinery and causes equipment failures.

MSE provides advice for the causes of performance shortfall and recommends practical strategies to restore power. This normally takes into account the state of the engine, the fired hours and maintenance practices as well as the control system set-up. In many instances MSE's recommendations have led to restoration of full engine power.

MSE also offers a remote monitoring of gas turbines and compressors which verifies both turbine and compressor performance regularly and issues reports at mutually agreed intervals.

Performance Testing & Failure Investigation

To maximise production from oil and gas assets, equipment performance and reliability are of critical importance. Recurrent equipment failures are usually a result of a performance problem or a design issue.

As independent consultants, MSE brings objectivity to problem solving; our principal aim is to solve the problem so that the oil and gas production can be restored. Our software tools are particularly suited to infield performance testing and our integrated models are extremely useful in pinpointing problem areas.

MSE specialists will discuss the problem with the client and will visit the site where this can be arranged including carrying out equipment survey.

A key element of MSE's approach is reliable data gathering. This includes design data of the equipment as well as operational data including gas compositions analysis. To build a reliable GASMAN model, MSE analyses equipment performance and establishes the degree of fouling and performance degradation. Clearly for old equipment, performance levels would be lower than the original design due to fouling and performance loss.

With experience in performance testing over 20 years, MSE has built a reliable database of equipment. Using this historical data it can quickly establish the real cause of the problem.

Given the age and state of the equipment, its original design and current level of performance, MSE rapidly draws conclusions and helps to formulate a practical strategy to resolve the issues and restore the original performance. MSE also accesses and analyses the equipment manufacturer's data and provides the client with an independent review of the machine performance.