Abstract: There are described methods and apparatus for operating and/or cleaning a compressor. In an embodiment, a first fluid comprising gas may be passed through the compressor, while the compressor operates to compress the first fluid. A second fluid may be passed through the compressor, the second fluid comprising gas and liquid from at least one well. The second fluid may be passed through the compressor for a limited time period to clean a surface inside the compressor, while the compressor operates to compress the second fluid.

Abstract: There are described methods and apparatus for operating and/or cleaning a compressor. In an embodiment, a first fluid comprising gas may be passed through the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the first fluid. A second fluid may be passed through the compressor, the second fluid comprising gas and liquid from at least one well. The second fluid may be passed through the compressor for a limited time period to clean a surface inside the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the second fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controls a compressor, where the compressor inlet gas may contain water and/or non-aqueous liquid. The method includes the steps of measuring temperature at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring pressure at the compressor inlet and outlet side in order to determine a compressor pressure ratio, measuring fluid mixture density at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring individual volume fractions of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, and determining individual flow rates of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid on the basis of the measured individual volume fractions of gas, water and non aqueous liquid and the fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side.

Abstract: A method of dynamically controlling a wind turbine having a rotor supporting a plurality of blades and a main bearing supporting the rotor, the method comprising detecting a load profile around the circumference of the main bearing, generating a control signal based on the detected load profile and dynamically adjusting the load profile of the main bearing using the control signal.

Abstract: Subsea apparatus (10) for processing a well stream (2) and a method of processing a well stream subsea is described. In an embodiment, liquid (5) and gas (3) contained in the well stream (2) is separated. The separated gas (3) is cooled and the cooled gas (32) is combined with the separated liquid (5) to form a wet gas (52) for a compressor (90). An active cooling arrangement (30) may be used in one example to enhance the cooling effect provided by the cooler (30). Advantageously, the apparatus (10) can be arranged compactly, and may be provided on a subsea retrievable module.

Abstract: A gas compression system and a method of flow conditioning by a gas compression system are provided. A gas compression system includes a compact flow conditioner in a form of a flow conditioner tank and a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit comprising an impeller configured to compress a mixture of gas and liquid, wherein the gas compression system is configured such that the gas and the liquid are separated in the flow conditioner tank, the separated gas and liquid are sucked up through the separate gas and liquid pipes and re-mixed again upstream of the impeller, and the liquid is distributed in a gas flow by Venturi effect, and wherein the Venturi effect is obtained by a constriction in the outlet pipe to the impeller, just upstream of the impeller.

Abstract: A combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit and a gas compression system are provided. The combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit functions on a centrifugal principle for transporting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner to a remote multi-phase receiving plant, wherein a rotating separator separates liquid and gas upstream of a compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, wherein the separated liquid is collected in a rotating annulus in such a way that the liquid is given kinetic energy which is converted to pressure energy in a static system, and wherein the pressurized liquid bypasses the compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, and then is re-mixed with the gas downstream of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit.

Abstract: There are described methods and apparatus for operating and/or cleaning a compressor. In an embodiment, a first fluid comprising gas may be passed through the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the first fluid. A second fluid may be passed through the compressor, the second fluid comprising gas and liquid from at least one well. The second fluid may be passed through the compressor for a limited time period to clean a surface inside the compressor, whilst the compressor operates to compress the second fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wet gas compression system comprising a compact flow conditioner (21), intended to be placed below sea level in close vicinity to a well head or on a dry installation, said flow conditioner (21) being intended to receive a multi-phase flow through a supply pipe (11) from a sub sea well for further transport of such hydrocarbons to a multi-phase receiving plant, and where preferably avoid sand accumulation or remove as much sand as possible from the multi-phase flow, the gas (G) and the liquid (L) being separated in the flow conditioner (21) whereupon the separated gas (G) and liquid (L) are re-assembled and enters a multi-phase meter (46) prior to boosting by means of a compressor (22). In the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22), as an integrated unit, comprises a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22) functioning on the centrifugal principle, used for trans-porting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner (21) to a remote multi-phase receiving plant.

Abstract: Subsea apparatus (10) for processing a well stream (2) and a method of processing a well stream subsea is described. In an embodiment, liquid (5) and gas (3) contained in the well stream (2) is separated. The separated gas (3) is cooled and the cooled gas (32) is combined with the separated liquid (5) to form a wet gas (52) for a compressor (90). An active cooling arrangement (30) may be used in one example to enhance the cooling effect provided by the cooler (30). Advantageously, the apparatus (10) can be arranged compactly, and may be provided on a subsea retrievable module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controls a compressor, where the compressor inlet gas may contain water and/or non-aqueous liquid. The method includes the steps of measuring temperature at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring pressure at the compressor inlet and outlet side in order to determine a compressor pressure ratio, measuring fluid mixture density at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring individual volume fractions of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, and determining individual flow rates of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid on the basis of the measured individual volume fractions of gas, water and non aqueous liquid and the fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side.

Abstract: An axial gas thrust bearing for rotors in rotating machinery includes at least one radial disk, integral with or fastened to the rotor and one fixed seal facing each disk or two fixed seals positioned to surround each disk, lower portions of the seals being situated at a distance from the rotor to allow the inflow of compressed fluid passing in the gap between the respective disk and seals, thereby combining the properties of a balance piston and thrust bearing disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wet gas compression system comprising a compact flow conditioner (21), intended to be placed below sea level in close vicinity to a well head or on a dry installation, said flow conditioner (21) being intended to receive a multi-phase flow through a supply pipe (11) from a sub sea well for further transport of such hydrocarbons to a multi-phase receiving plant, and where preferably avoid sand accumulation or remove as much sand as possible from the multi-phase flow, the gas (G) and the liquid (L) being separated in the flow conditioner (21) whereupon the separated gas (G) and liquid (L) are re-assembled and enters a multi-phase meter (46) prior to boosting by means of a compressor (22). In the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22), as an integrated unit, comprises a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22) functioning on the centrifugal principle, used for trans-porting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner (21) to a remote multi-phase receiving plant.