GE's Smart software helps BP offshore facility save millions of dollars in unplanned shutdowns.

BP had recently deployed real time condition monitoring & anomaly detection technologies in order to improve the reliability of the...

BP had recently deployed real time condition monitoring & anomaly detection technologies in order to improve the reliability of the offshore rotating equipment. These included GE’s Bently Nevada System 1 and Proficy SmartSignal Shield software. The Smart Signal Shield software had been installed four months prior to this study and was able to flag the compressor instability at a very early stage. Additionally, System 1 software provided confirmation of the problem by accommodating deeper diagnostic analysis. The rotating equipment team was quickly notified of the problem. This enabled the offshore team to quickly make a critical decision, they routed the wells differently to manage load on the affected compressor. They also opened the compressor anti-surge valve manually to increase recycle flow and stabilize the rotor. These prompt actions implemented a short-term solution, which avoided failure of the compressor and unplanned shutdowns of the affected system that would have cost the company millions of dollars. Historically, there have been several instability-related failures to the compressor thrust bearing, and at least four trips in the past six months. This case history demonstrates how effective use of GE's Smart signal shield software platform enabled quick sharing of important information across the region - enhancing plant safety while at the same time avoiding the lost production that a compressor failure would have caused. DOWNLOAD VALVE SOLUTIONS APP. WANT TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT? FEEDBACK @anand_rkrishnan