GE to supply electrical equipment for mega gas processing facility

GE Power was recently chosen by Kerui Metodo Construção e Montagem S.A, led by China’s Shandong Kerui Petroleum and Brazil’s Metodo Potencial, to provide a e-house solution, which will be part of the construction of a natural gas processing unit in Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro state.

The unit, also known as UPGN, is part of the Rota 3 natural gas project designed to transport and process natural gas feedstock from Petrobras’ Bacia de Santos pre-salt cluster to Itaboraí. The unit will be the largest of its kind in Brazil, with a capacity to process up to 21 million cubic meters per day.

The tailored-made e-house solution provided by GE will be the largest of its kind in Latin America, stretching over an area of 800 square meters. GE’s e-house solution is a modular outdoor enclosure that houses transformers, switchboards, medium-voltage panels, variable speed drive systems and busducts. It will connect every single piece of electrical equipment, providing power, protection, control and distribution to all the equipment involved in the gas process.

“The project, once completed, will almost double the pre-salt gas offloading and processing capacity. Given its scale and complexity, it is essential that all technologies adopted in the unit are reliable and robust. We are delighted to work with GE, whose electrical solution will be an indispensable piece in the oil and gas extraction and processing,” said Mr. Ivo Vieitas, vice president at Metodo Potencial.

“The reliable e-house solution is proven to reduce risks of outages. Its availability and reliability support and drive the efficiency of the plant and thus its productivity and revenues,” said Ed Torres, CEO of Marine and O&G, GE’s Power Conversion business. “We are excited to be chosen to implement our in-depth electric engineering know-how to provide such a complex key solution to this landmark oil and gas project.”

“The increase in the price of oil has made oil and gas activities once again become feasible and profitable. Applying technology to extract more value from natural resources more efficiently will further fuel the revival of the sector,” said Azeez Mohammed, president & CEO, GE’s Power Conversion business.