Caterpillar Ships First Dynamic Gas Blend Retrofit Kit to Russia

Caterpillar Inc. announced it has shipped the first unit of the Dynamic Gas Blending retrofit kit to a Russian oil and gas company.

The dual fuel product is now available for order from the Cat dealer network. As announced previously, the Dynamic Gas Blending kit allows customers to reduce fuel costs and meet changing emissions regulations by utilizing a wide range of gaseous fuels in their existing diesel generator sets. The kit also recently successfully completed an extensive field test for Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.

The Dynamic Gas Blending kit automatically adjusts to changes in incoming fuel quality and pressure allowing engines to run on a wide variety of fuels, from associated gas to vaporized LNG with no loss of performance integrity. It maintains diesel performance levels with up to 70 percent replacement of diesel with gas, accepts up to 55 percent inerts. No customer input or gas analysis is needed during operation, and no recalibration is required when the equipment is moved or the gas supply changes. No testing is required at rig construction or rig up.

“This is a completely integrated solution that continually adjusts to varying fuel quality and requires no adjustments or re-testing, allowing the engine to run at maximum substitution while maintaining a high level of reliability and durability,” said Sam Ternes, Caterpillar Global Petroleum engineering specialist.

Designed for compatibility with existing land drilling rig controls and production multi-generator set control systems, the gas blending kit provides robust transient response and an integrated gas induction control which maintains stable generator output. It is easily integrated with drilling and production generators in the oil and gas industry.

The Dynamic Gas Blending kits include Caterpillar’s newest control system – EMCP4.4, which easily integrates the engine, generator and the gas blending system. Features of the EMCP4.4 include:

• Plain text display of fault codes
• Compatibility with customer inputs through MODBUS protocol and load sharing modules
• Easy-to-view gas system parameters, simple daily walk-around inspections
• Engine protection shutdown/startup ability with custom programmable alarms
• Compatible with legacy direct rack control systems

“The fuel savings achieved with this system depends on a number of variables, including the application, the quality of the gas, the pressure and available volume,” said Russell Goss, Caterpillar Global Petroleum engineering specialist.

The gas blending kit includes an emergency stop purge cycle, generator temperature monitoring and air shut-off valves. If fault codes are detected in the gas system, it will be shut down and the system will seamlessly revert to full diesel operations. To learn more about the DGB solution, please visit the Dynamic Gas Blending product website.

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LNG World News Staff, December 07, 2012; Image: Caterpillar