GE'S New ICL Technology Selected For Expansion Of Etzel Gas-Lager Storage Facility In Germany
Florence, Italy - New integrated motor compressor (ICL) technology developed by GE's Oil & Gas business to provide operating and environmental benefits for its customers has been selected by the Etzel Gas-Lager (EGL) consortium for the expansion of the EGL storage facility in Germany. The EGL facility is owned by Statoil, E.ON Ruhrgas, Norsk Hydro, ConocoPhillips and Total.
E.ON Ruhrgas is developing the project together with E.ON Engineering, and Statoil is the operator of the facility, which will be used to store natural gas. GE Oil & Gas will supply a 8.3-megawatt ICL compressor driven by a high-speed electric motor and an associated electrical drive system provided by Converteam.
Introduced by GE earlier this year, the ICL technology features an integrated system with a single casing for the compressor and motor and combines three proven technologies: centrifugal compression, active magnetic bearings and high-speed electric motors and drives.
"We are very pleased that the Etzel project will be the commercial launch site for our ICL technology," said Claudi Santiago, president and CEO of GE Oil & Gas. "We have designed the ICL to address today's growing requirements for reliability, pollution and noise control. The technology offers an innovative solution for gas storage, pipeline applications and upstream or downstream clean dry gas services up to 15 megawatts of power."
"Expansion of its gas storage capabilities is part of E.ON Rurhgas's strategy to support the growth of its gas business, " said Markus Linnemann, Head of Competence Centre Process and Surface Facilities for E.ON Ruhrgas. "The compressor selection is a key element to secure the success of this important project."
The Etzel Gas-Lager facility, located in northern Germany, stores gas under high pressure in underground salt caverns. The storage expansion is designed to meet increasing demands, especially during the winter.
Although it features an integrated design, the ICL concept is highly flexible and can meet a wide range of application requirements. It builds on the experience and expertise of GE Oil & Gas and its research team in leading-edge technologies such as high-speed electric motors and magnetic bearings.
ICL units do not require a gearbox, lube oil system, shaft seals or external cooling system, enabling higher reliability, less maintenance at a lower cost. Other benefits for customers include a smaller footprint and a smaller compression building, ease of installation, higher availability than a conventional electric motor-driven solution, a continuous speed range that enables a wide operating range, no emissions and a low noise level.
Following the successful completion of intensive testing of the new technology by GE in 2006, the ICL was qualified by Total for natural gas applications.
The ICL unit for the EGL expansion project will be manufactured and tested at GE Oil & Gas facilities in Le Creusot, France and will be delivered in early 2009.
SOURCE: GE's Oil & Gas business