02-04-2013

GE technology drives increased gas compression at China gas field

Offering a 3 percent increase in gas compression compared to other machines in its class, a GE Waukesha gas engine, driving the largest gas compressor of its type in China, has entered full commercial operation at the Chongqing Gas Field. The project supports China’s long-term development strategy with lower emissions, fuel flexibility, higher efficiency and reliability and is part of the country’s plans to build large-scale gas storage facilities.

Featuring one of GE’s Waukesha 16 V 275GL+ gas engines with an output of 4,835 bhp at 1,000 RPM, this is the first high-speed reciprocating compressor powered by a +4,000 bhp gas engine independently developed in China. The technology is installed at a compression station owned and operated by South West Oil & Gas Company of the China National Petroleum Corp. The station has an output of 2.8 million cubic meters of natural gas per day. Located in southwestern China, Chongqing is one of the largest natural gas production bases in China.

Over a five- to 10-year period, the 3 percent increase in gas compression represents a significant increase in the amount of gas that is compressed for pipeline transportation. In addition, the Waukesha 275GL+ natural gas engine produces lower greenhouse gas emissions relative to comparable natural gas engines. In one application, a Waukesha engine operating at the same horsepower as a competitive engine can avoid more than 1,900 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year, equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of more than 380 cars on U.S. roads.

“GE’s Waukesha gas engines technology increases local natural gas compression and distribution while also meeting cleaner energy requirements,” said Liu Hu, director of CNPC Jichai Power Equipment Company Chengdu Compressor Plant, which developed the new compression package.

“Based on its successful installation and commercial startup, we anticipate that this first-of-its-kind compression station will serve as a model for future projects to help China meet a growing need for gas storage,” said Roger George, global gas compression sales leader, GE Gas Engines for GE Power & Water. “We’re confident that our gas engine technology is a good match for China’s gas compression needs and will play a key role as this sector continues to develop.”

The Chongqing project is being supported by a service center set up in Chengdu in 2008 by China Diesel Support Services Ltd., GE’s Waukesha gas engines distributor in China.

GE’s Waukesha 275GL+ series gas engines are spark-ignited machines that power natural gas compressors in the storage, production and transmission segments, offering greater fuel flexibility, efficiency, higher horsepower and lower emissions. These engines produce lower greenhouse gas emissions based on a 2 percent or greater fuel efficiency advantage relative to comparable natural gas engines. While Chongqing is the first installation of a Waukesha 275GL+ natural gas engine in China, the technology is widely used for gas compression worldwide, including major projects in India and China.

In addition to gas compression applications, GE’s Waukesha gas engines also are part of the company’s portfolio of innovative distributed power solutions, designed to give businesses and communities around the world the ability to generate reliable and efficient power using a variety of fuels anywhere, whether on or off the grid. GE’s distributed power portfolio also includes GE’s aeroderivative gas turbines and Clean Cycle waste heat recovery solutions.