Thread by @energy_blogger

Good simple explainer on Nord Stream ongoing issue. #OOTT #Gas.

https://twitter.com/sstapczynski/status/1553615304525500416

Adding few numbers to .@SStapczynski explainer

To move any fluid from point A to B in a pipeline has to be pressurized, be it Oil / Water /Natural Gas

Nord Stream is a 1,224 km (760 mile) long pipeline with most of it undersea

Gas from Portovoya has to travel all this distance

So to pressurize Natural Gas, compressors are used.

These comes in all sizes, as small as in you refrigerator to sizes larger than a house

Compressors are a rotating machinery hence it either needs a electric motor or Gas Turbine to rotate it or commonly said as to drive it.

These compressors pressurize the gas to >220 barg (3190 psi) at the station

On normal landline routes there is at-least one more compressor station over this long distance

But in Nord Stream there is no intermediate pressuring station, so has to be highly pressurized in Russia.

The 220 barg (3190 psi) gradually losses its pressure on its way to Germany due to pipe friction losses

Germany receives at 170 barg (2465 psi) at Lubmin onshore facility

Pressure is further reduced on land to 100 barg (1450 psi) & gas is cleaned & warmed up before distribution

Compressor station at Portovaya Landfall facility are segregated into different segments.

The compressors form part of what is called Gas Pumping Unit (GPU).

This GPU package was supplied by Rolls Royce with Compressors from Siemens (then Dresser Rand)
rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a…

Compressor Station at Portovaya, is made up of 8 gas-pumpling units

6-GPU with 52 MW capacity
2-GPU with 27 MW capacity

All the 52MW GPU have a Rolls-Royce Gas Turbine

Russian companies did not had a reference of similar size unit hence Gazprom had settled with foreign supply

If my understanding is correct. The GPU are configured this manner and it’s pretty standard industrial practice.

Gazprom recently reduced 20% capacity for each turbine loss.

It means GPU configuration is
5 x 20% operating units
1 x 20% standby unit.

go.tass.ru/jndqi

And even before Nord Stream went into maintanence the flow through pipeline was at 40%

So Prior to June 14th, Gas flow was higher than 40%

This means three GPU out of Six 52MW GPUs were working prior to mid June.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

And understanding is site had minimum 2 more 52 MW spare Gas Turbines

So tracking Gazprom mid June announcement we can only track issues in 3 GPU

We don’t know what is status of renaming 3 GPU and spare Gas Turbines at site.

Btw I’ve not come to actual part that has the issue within Gas Turbine. It’s for another weekend.

Sources used on this thread
- nord-stream.com/download/docum…

- nord-stream.com/download/docum…

- nord-stream.com/download/file/…

- nord-stream.com/press-info/pre…

- Gazprom website