Siemens to deliver compression solutions for gas gathering in Australia
Siemens Energy has received an order for the supply of up to 10 compressor trains to Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) in Queensland, Australia. APLNG is a joint venture between Origin Energy and ConocoPhillips. The APLNG project will involve the development of coal seam gas fields in south central Queensland over a 30-year period and includes construction of upstream gas gathering and processing facilities together with a 450 km main transmission pipeline from the gas fields to the LNG facility being built on Curtis Island near Gladstone. The Siemens´ compression solution will be incorporated into APLNG’s upstream gas gathering facilities to compress low pressure coal seam gas for delivery via the main pipeline to the LNG facility, whereupon it will be compressed and cooled into liquefied natural gas (LNG). Delivery of the compressor trains will start in early 2012.
“We see a steadily growing need for innovative technologies capable of tapping new reserves in remote or extremely challenging regions,“ said Tom Blades, CEO of Siemens’ Oil and Gas Division. “Our all-electric compressor packages for gas gathering enable an efficient and flexible application coal seam gas extraction. Compared to conventionally driven compressors CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to one-third depending on the means of power generation.”
Each compression train consists of two compressor skids, one low pressure and one high pressure, with each skid carrying two compressors with variable speed drives. Each train is designed to transport around 84 MMSCFD (million standard cubic feet per day) of gas. The compressors have to demonstrate a high level of reliability and flexibility to suit the LNG facility requirements. Coal seam gas is a natural gas which is mainly composed of methane. It is a by-product of ancient plant matter that has formed over millions of years by the same natural processes which produce coal.
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