Page 35: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2018)

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PRODUCTION

Looking after

A project by the UK’s Energy your assets

Institute has paved the way for new guidelines on how best to look after aging gas turbine

Rotating equipment is a key part of the asset infrastructure and aging packages. Elaine Maslin reports.

needs to be managed effectively,

Grieve says. ging equipment is a challenge “Within the [North Sea Rotating anywhere, but not least on a Equipment] group, many have suffered

A platform in the middle of the in silence,” Grieve says. “This was

North Sea. an opportunity to share experience.”

The basin has a lot of equipment, in- Experience included that environmental cluding a large ? eet of gas turbine pack- and operational conditions can acceler- ages, ranging from new sets to packages ate aging. The group shared experience that are more than 40 years old – with around premature and aging-related an API design life of typically 20. failures, different maintenance and

Work by the Energy Institute (EI) has inspection strategies and different sought to offer guidance into how best to solutions – repairs, modi? cations and keep these units running. A work group, improvements – as well as experiences

GE Frame 6 heavy industrial turbine rotor the North Sea Rotating Equipment Users with different suppliers.

Photos: Karl Grieve/Repsol Sinopec Resources UK.

lift.

The principal aim of this document

Network in 2013, comprising oil and is to assist operators with identifying, gas operators, was set up under the EI planning and performing inspection umbrella to share knowledge and best routines that are applicable to aging practice.

The group was set up following gas turbine equipment; effectively the UK Health and Safety Executives assisting with the development of a

KP-4 program on aging and life exten- rotating equipment integrity manage- sion, out of which guidelines were ment system. developed by the EI for centrifugal While gas turbine maintenance is compressors. well understood, there also needs to be

Having proved successful, the idea to more understanding about the ancil- publish a suite of documents on rotat- lary equipment and understanding dif- ing equipment tackling key areas was ferent assets and different equipment launched, starting with guidance for types and their different issues. aging gas turbine packages. “Routine inspection and audit-

Rolls Royce Avon aero-derivative gas

Repsol Sinopec Resources UK has 54 ing forms a key part of managing the turbine. operational gas turbine packages, “one aging,” Grieve says. “It is a practical of the largest ? eet” of a total ca.300 in document containing guidance on the UK North Sea. A challenge is that considerations for determining an there is a diverse mix of types varying appropriate approach to inspection, from large industrial turbines that have maintenance and monitoring as well to be maintained in-situ through to as a failure modes and effects analysis lighter weight, modular units that can (FMEA) of key aspects of gas turbine be removed and repaired or replaced, packages.

Karl Grieve, lead rotating equipment The FMEA was further developed to engineer, Repsol Sinopec Resources UK, provide suggestions for failure mitiga- told the Energy Institute’s annual Asset tion and improvement options for sys-

Integrity conference in Aberdeen. tems or components based on the collec-

Assets that were typically designed tive experience of the group. The intent for 20 years’ life and are operating is for this knowledge and best practice beyond that or have aged prematurely to be shared.” The guidance document

Ruston TB5000 light industrial gas need a different maintenance regime. is due to be published early 2018. turbine changeout. oedigital.com

January 2018 | OE 37 037_OE0118_Prod1a_aset integ.indd 37 12/27/17 7:30 PM

Offshore Engineer