MSE Compressor Training Courses: June 2008

MSE is pleased to announce that we will be holding the following courses during June 2008:

Centrifugal Compressors: Design, Selection, Optimisation & Re-Wheeling (GCT2): Four-Day Course

This course examines both the fundamentals of compressor design and ways to optimise your machinery's performance. You will be given practical information through real-life case studies.

Designed for those of you engaged in the design, selection, operation and evaluation of centrifugal compressors, this course will enable you to:

• Recognise compressor design characteristics

• Know and apply compressor selection fundamentals

• Investigate machinery failures

• Apply production enhancement techniques to your machinery

• Optimise your compressors

• Make effective changes in process conditions

• Recognise optimal compressor re-wheeling options

• Carry out performance testing

Gas Compressor Controls (GCC2): One-Day Course

This practical course provides you with an introduction to the controlling of centrifugal compressors used in oil and gas, petrochemical refinery and LNG applications.

Ideal for machinery, process and control engineers, this course will give you an understanding of the essential requirements of controlling centrifugal compressors, enabling you to design, select and specify the appropriate equipment and make the most of new and existing technologies.

Please note that the final dates for the course will be confirmed soon.

These courses will be held at Airport House, Croydon, UK. To ensure your training is always focussed the number of course delegates is kept to an optimum number, allowing you plenty of time for questions and answers. Places are always limited and advance reservation is recommended.

For a brochure and booking form, please call +44(0)20 8773 4500 or contact jennie.male@mse.co.uk.

Dr Akhtar Presents Workshop and Seminar at Rotate 2007 9th - 12th December (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

Dr Akhtar participated in Rotate 2007 by presenting a workshop and seminar at this prestigious event. Rotate 2007 focused on optimising reliability and daily revenue by improving the performance of rotating equipment. This conference was a fantastic opportunity to give those working within the oil and gas industry the opportunity to hear world-class best practice presentations from leading experts in the field, discuss key challenges and take away solutions.

On the 9th December, Dr Akhtar presented a workshop entitled Designing, Selecting and Testing Centrifugal Compressors. This workshop explained how centrifugal compressors are designed, selected and their performances determined. It also covered the typical applications used in the oil and gas industry and include real-life case studies using various software systems for compressor design, performance analysis and performance testing.

On 10th December, Dr Akhtar lead a seminar entitled Turning Data Into Information: Determining the Real Performance of Large Centrifugal Compressors Operating in the Field. This seminar:

• Examined the reasons for low performance compared with the original design

• Compared the differences between factory test data and field test results

• Assessed the case for adopting volumetric efficiency concept from reciprocating compressors

• Explained the effect of performance loss on production and how it can affect machine reliability

Dr Akhtar's Paper Presented at IORS 2007

A paper written by MSE's Technical Director, Dr Akhtar and entitled 'Mature Oil and Gas Facilities: Replace or Upgrade?' was presented at the India Oil & Gas Review Symposium (IORS) and International Exhibition. This prestigious event was held in Mumbai on 3rd and 4th of September at Hotel Taj Lands End with the technical support of ONGC and other oil companies.

Other guest and keynote speakers included CEOs such as RS Sharma (CMD, ONGC), S Behuria (Chairman, Indian Oil), MB Lall (Chairman, HPCL) as well as senior management from British Gas.

If you would like a copy of this paper, please contact us: info@mse.co.uk.

Dr Akhtar Presents Paper at the Gas Processors Association Europe Technical Conference

Dr MS Akhtar, MSE's Technical Director, presented his paper entitled “Determining the Real Performance of Centrifugal Compressors Operating in Oil and Gas Facilities” at the Gas Processors Association Europe's forthcoming conference held at Teeside 22nd - 24th May 2007.

GPA Europe promotes technical and operational excellence throughout the European Gas Industry and this conference provides the opportunity for members to meet and learn about advances in technology, practical operational experiences and the latest business developments.

If you would like a copy of this paper, please contact us:  info@mse.co.uk.

MSE Joins FPAL

MSE is a Registered Supplier with First Point Assessment (FPAL) so you can be assured that when choosing our company we comply with the highest standards required to work in the oil and gas industry. 

FPAL connects buyers and suppliers in the oil and gas industry through an online database. It is the key tool used by oil and gas purchasers to identify and select current and potential suppliers when awarding contracts or purchase orders. FPAL was set up in 1996 by the industry as their solution to internal vendor approved lists and continues to successfully eliminate costly duplication in pre-qualifying suppliers.

Take a Long-Term View of Asset Life with MSE

Dr Akhtar, Technical Director of MSE, outlines strategies for extending the life of mature assets in the February 2007 edition of International Oil & Gas Engineer.

For the full article, click here.

MSE Extends Its Services with Commercial Consultancy

MSE is pleased to announce that we will be extending our company's services to the oil & gas industry with commercial consultancy.

We already have a highly successful track record in optimising production from mature oil & gas assets as well as planning and designing new facilities. Now MSE can assess projects in the wider commercial, financial and corporate context. This will ensure that the broader implications of technical choices are understood throughout the project evolution.

We will test the economics of a project, taking into account aspects including:

• A country's fiscal/legal framework

• Oil & gas licence arrangements

• Pricing structures

• A company's corporate set-up

• Financing arrangements

• Tax/cost recovery situations

MSE also provides:

• Advice on financing, asset and company acquisition

• Facilitation with bid preparation, concession, joint venture negotiation and general due diligence

To provide this service, MSE has joined forces with Simon Smith, a finance leader with extensive expertise in Government and Joint Venture oil negotiation within complex multi-cultural environments. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Simon has over 30 years experience of working with the financial arena, 25 of which were spent with Shell.

"We are delighted to have Simon on board and are looking forward to working with him on future projects. I am sure this new new development within MSE will bring further benefit to the oil & gas industry", said Dr Sib Akhtar, Technical Director of MSE.

For further information, please email:  info@mse.co.uk

ImechE Ninth European Fluid Machinery Congress, Hague (Apr 23-26 2006)

Reliability & Optimisation of Artificial Lift Systems  (21 October 2005, Aberdeen)

Dr Akhtar presented a paper entitled Effects of Extended Recycle on Gas Lift Compressors in Mature Assets at IQPC's Reliability and Optimisation of Artificial Lift Systems Conference held in Aberdeen.

Gas lift compressors suffer from low availability; poor reliability and operational difficulties in older facilities serving mature assets due to recycled volumes of formation gas. This results in “lean out” and excessive recycle. These and other reservoir and process related issues are quite complex and their effect on compressor operation and performance is not properly understood. This presentation looked at two case studies, which demonstrated careful testing and computer simulations.

View Presentation

Britannia Operator Limited - Britannia Compression Capacity Study (May 2005)

The performance of Britannia gas compression system, including the centrifugal compressors and gas turbines, have been bench-marked in a study completed by MSE in February 2005.  A GASMAN model was developed and delivered to Britannia Operator Limited to calculate production flows and process conditions according to the performance of the machines, equipment and plant.   

Britannia Operator Limited now wish to investigate potential enhancements of the compression system within the existing configuration constraints, to ensure that Britannia can continue to deliver to its maximum production potential in future years.  

MSE has been requested to make a study of modifications and options for production enhancement, utilising GASMAN compression model for examining production benefits, and optimising compressor and machinery specifications using MSE’s proprietary software.

Petroleum Development of Oman - Saih Rawl Compression Study (April 2005)

The Saih Rawl Compression System is a wellhead Depletion Project aimed at production maintenance with declining reservoir pressures.  This is a very difficult compressor application since both flows and pressures change over time.

PDO has awarded MSE this contract to identify machinery that can operate in desert environment where there is no availability of cooling water.  The study will cover driver and compressor selection and address the special feature of gas depletion field.

Petrofac International Ltd - Dynamic Simulation Study Kashagan (April 2005)

MSE has been awarded a contract by Petrofac International Ltd to carryout a Dynamic Simulation study for the Kashagan Field Development Project.

The study will be conducted by constructing three separate dynamic simulation models of the Kashagan gas compression facility.  Each model will be individually tested and used to perform the operability, controllability and robustness of each of the specified cases supplied by Petrofac International Ltd.

The study will ensure the plant can operate without process instabilities caused by surging of compressors, and tune process control system parameters (set points etc.) for high compressor availability.  Potential problems with the proposed control system will be highlighted and corrective actions suggested.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation India - Conference on Emerging Offshore Technology   (April 2005)

Dr Akhtar was invited by ONGC's Director (Offshore) Mr N. K. Mitra to be the key note speaker at their Conference on Emerging Offshore Technology in Mumbai, India.

Dr Akhtar read a paper entitled 'Emerging Maintenance Strategies for High Value Machinery (Gas Turbines and Compressor) for Oil and Gas Production Facilities'.

Synopsis

Gas Turbines and Compressors are central to the Oil and Gas production facility especially for offshore platforms. Maintaining these machines over prolong periods, typically 20-30 years and some times longer, is a major challenge for the operating companies. Getting spare parts for the old machinery becomes a major issue.  Replacing old machinery with new is not an easy task; it requires much planning, care and high costs not to mention production stoppages.

In general operators develop maintenance strategies to suit each asset. This will depend upon, criticality of service, availability of “Spare” machines, number of Compressor-Turbine Trains installed, future replacement and upgrades.

 

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation India - Heera Asset   (Feb 2005)

MSE has been awarded a contract by ONGC in Mumbai to 'Manage Gas Compression Facilities at ONGC Offshore – Heera Asset'

MSE previously  visited ONGC in Mumbai to presented a Workshop on technologies and case studies for improving technologies developed and tested for North Sea offshore Assets in the UK and other countries.  The project awarded will cover nine activities, which have been identified by ONGC for analysis and implementation including:

1.   Review of maintenance strategies.

2.   Equipment failure analysis: improving machinery reliability and availability.

3.   Investigation of tripping and resolution of production interruption.

4.   Identifying root cause problems and recommendation.

5.   Investigation of seal oil degradation and recommendation for new technologies.

6.   Development of a gas compressor and driver database.

7.   Training of selected engineering staff.

8.   Exposure to best international practices.

9.   Benchmarking of total operations against best industry practices.