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22 January 2004 - GE Energy has completed the first phase of an upgrade project to increase the performance of one of the turbo compressor trains operating in Atlantic LNG Company's Port Fortin, Trinidad production facility.
Atlantic LNG's goal was to increase the production and efficiency of the oldest turbo compressor train in the Port Fortin facility to match the performance of two newer trains at the plant. The two newer trains are driven by the latest technology GE MS5002D gas turbines while the older train, unit #1 at the plant, consists of two parallel lines composed of six turbo compressors driven by GE MS5002C gas turbines.
GE Energy's oil and gas group recommended upgrading the older propane, ethylene and methane gas turbines from model C to the D configuration. The D retrofit will increase the gas turbine output by more than 10 per cent. The main modifications are the replacement of the compressor station and the use of advanced technology and material for high-pressure packing, buckets, bearings and shrouds.
In addition, GE proposed rebundling the ethylene compressors to take full advantage of the added power of the upgraded gas turbines. In order to increase efficiency, installation of a new third-stage volute was proposed for the propane compressors. This modification in the two parallel lines of unit #1 will increase LNG production by 4.6 cent.
GE proposed a project plan to reduce downtime and limit lost production that would upgrade the gas turbines and compressors during two partial shutdowns of 23 days each.
The challenge for the GE team was to complete the upgrade of one of the unit #1 lines while the other line continued to run. With this approach, the train would continue production at 57 per cent output during the upgrade activity.
The first shutdown was successfully completed in September, 2003. Gas turbine modifications, propane and ethylene compressor upgrades and the major inspection of methane compressors were performed in 23 days, as scheduled. The upgrade of the second line in unit #1 will be performed in April of 2004.
Atlantic LNG was formed by the initiative of the National Gas Company, with international partners BP, BG, Repsol and Cabot (Cabot's share subsequently was sold to Tractebel), to utilize Trinidad and Tobago's natural gas resources in the production of liquefied natural gas. Train 1 was the first LNG plant in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. Trains 2 and 3 are now in production, and Train 4 is under construction.
The total capacity places Trinidad and Tobago among the top five producers of LNG in the world.
GE Energy's oil and gas operations are based in Florence, Italy, the home of Nuovo Pignone, a long-time global leader in gas compression and turbo generation products. GE acquired Nuovo Pignone in 1994 and since then has continued to expand its oil and gas portfolio by acquiring or developing partnerships with other technology and experience leaders in the industry.
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