Modular Configurable Compression Systems and Methods

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatuses for matching an operation range to a reservoir depletion condition are disclosed herein. An embodiment provides a modular compression system for matching an operation range to a reservoir depletion condition. The modular compression system includes a compressor arranged to compress a gas, a motor or other driver coupled to the compressor and configured to provide power to the compressor, and a pressure casing surrounding the compressor and the motor. The modular compression system further includes a modular motor assembly configured to be selectively attachable and mechanically coupled to the compressor and the pressure casing. The modular motor assembly is arranged to provide supplemental power to the compressor to change the capacity of the modular compression system to compress the gas.

1 . A modular compression system comprising:
 a compressor arranged to compress a gas;   a driving element coupled to the compressor and configured to provide power to the compressor;   a pressure casing surrounding the compressor and the driving element; and   a modular motor assembly configured to be selectively attachable and coupled to the compressor and the pressure casing, the modular motor being arranged to provide supplemental power to the compressor to change the capacity of the modular compression system to compress the gas.   
     
     
         2 . The modular compression system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base plate; and   at least one support member connected between the pressure casing and the base plate configured to support the compressor, the driving element, and the modular motor.   
     
     
         3 . The modular compression system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first flange on the pressure casing;   a second flange on the modular motor, wherein the first flange is connected to the second flange, and wherein the modular motor assembly is not in contact with any support members connected to the base plate.   
     
     
         4 . The modular compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular motor assembly is coupled to the driving element in a series driving configuration or a tandem configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The modular compression system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling water jacket on the periphery of the pressure casing. 
     
     
         6 . The modular compression system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a modular separator having a first inlet configured to receive a fluid mixture and an outlet configured to produce a gas, and wherein the outlet is coupled to the compressor at a second inlet of the compressor.   
     
     
         7 . The modular compression system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a modular heat exchanger coupled to an end of the modular separator, the modular separator coupled to an end of the compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The modular compression system of  claim 1 , further comprising a modular compression assembly drivably connected to both the driving element and the modular motor assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The modular compression system of  claim 8 , wherein the modular compression system is configured to divide the input gas stream into a first gas stream and a second gas stream, and wherein the modular compression system is configured to compress the first gas stream and the second gas stream in parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The modular compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the driving element is an electric motor. 
     
     
         11 . The modular compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the driving element is a turbine. 
     
     
         12 . A method for processing a gas stream using a modular compression system, wherein the modular compression system comprises a driving element mechanically coupled to a compressor by at least one shaft, and wherein the modular compression system further comprises a pressure casing surrounding the driving element and the compressor, the method comprising:
 removing a portion of the pressure casing to allow a modular motor assembly to couple to the compression system; and   connecting the modular motor to the compression system to boost drive power supplied to the compressor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 measuring an inlet gas pressure; and   determining that the inlet gas pressure is less than a threshold,   wherein the removing and the connecting are performed in response to the determining that the inlet gas pressure is less than a threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that the inlet gas pressure is less than a second threshold;   in response to the determining that the inlet gas pressure is less than the second threshold, connecting a modular compressor assembly to the modular motor to provide additional compression to the gas stream.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the modular motor connects to the compressor to drive the compressor in a tandem motor configuration or a drive-through configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that the inlet gas pressure is less than a second threshold;   in response to the determining that the inlet gas pressure is less than the second threshold:
 opening the pressure casing; 
 removing a component, wherein the component comprises either the compressor or the driving element; 
 replacing the component with a second component of increased capacity to provide greater compression to the gas stream; and 
 closing the pressure casing. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the driving element is one of an electric motor and a turbine. 
     
     
         18 . A modular apparatus comprising:
 a modular motor assembly configured to selectively attach to and provide supplemental power to a compression system, wherein the compression system comprises a first motor, the modular motor assembly comprising:
 a shaft configured to couple to the compression system; 
 a second motor coupled the shaft and configured to provide the supplemental power; and 
 an interface structure configured to be selectively affixed to the compression system to attach the modular motor assembly to the compression system. 
   
     
     
         19 . The modular apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the modular motor assembly further comprises a partition, and wherein the shaft extends beyond the partition and is mechanically coupled to the compression system. 
     
     
         20 . The modular apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a compression system, wherein the compression system further comprises a first compressor and a second shaft, and wherein the shaft is mechanically coupled to the second shaft to assist with driving the first compressor. 
     
     
         21 . The modular apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a modular compressor assembly selectively and mechanically coupled to the compression system, wherein the modular compressor assembly comprises a second compressor. 
     
     
         22 . The modular apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are configured to transfer mechanical power to the first compressor and the second compressor. 
     
     
         23 . The modular apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the modular motor assembly further comprises:
 a pressure casing; and   a flange surrounding a circumference of the pressure casing,   wherein the flange is configured to couple to the interface structure of the modular motor assembly, the flange being configured to support the weight of the modular motor assembly.