Compressor system and method of operation
AssigneeKvaener Rosenberg a.s. Kvaerner Subsea Contracting
InventorKjell O. Stinessen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the operation of a compressor system in a subsea station for transporting a well stream, separated well stream gas is supplied to a compressor (12, 13) which is arranged with its motor (8) in a common drive atmosphere within a pressure shell (21). As the drive atmosphere there is used a suitable, continually supplied dry extraneous gas, which is supplied to the well stream. There may be used a suitable dry extraneous gas which is stored in liquid form in an insulated container. There is also described a compressor system wherein there may be used as the drive atmosphere a continuously supplied, suitable dry extraneous gas.
Claims6
A compressor system in a subsea station for transporting a well stream, comprising a compressor (12, 13) with a motor (8) in a common drive atmosphere within a pressure shell (21), a gas chamber (4) and a gas suction line (6) between the gas chamber and an inlet in the compressor, and a lube oil circuit comprising s lube oil sump (25) open to the drive atmosphere in the pressure shell, a lube oil pump (27) bearings (19, 20, 14, 15, 16) of the motor (8) and compressor (11, 12, 13), and a lube oil flow line (29) to the bearings, characterized by means (34-36;
- 34-39) for supplying a suitable dry extraneous gas as the drive atmosphere in the pressure shell (21), and means (22,24,33) for discharging gas from the drive atmosphere to the gas chamber (4).
A method of operating a compressor system having a motor in a subsea station for transporting a well stream, wherein separated gas from a well stream is supplied with energy in a compressor which is arranged with its motor in a drive atmosphere within a pressure shell, the compressor and motor having lube oil lubricated bearings that form part of a lube oil circuit having a lube oil sump open to the drive atmosphere in the pressure shell, characterized in that the drive atmosphere is provided by continuous supplying of a suitable dry extraneous gas, said extraneous gas being conducted from the pressure shell to the well stream gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.