The Tempa Rossa power plant is one of the most advanced in the oil industry. Located in southern Italy, it is operated by TotalEnergies. The aim is to produce 50,000 barrels of oil and 230,000 m3 of natural gas per day. Bureau Vertias, Vibratec’s contact, assisted TotalEnergies in the operation of the oil field.
Prior to the Vibratec diagnosis, the production rate was around 30,000 barrels per day, and there were cracked SBCs on the discharge line of the second stage of the sales gas compressor. Each SBC crack required the compressor to be shut down for repair, followed by a restart and a flare visible in the Sauro valley, which posed problems of acceptability to the neighborhood.
01
Reactivity
Two Vibratec experts were on-site less than a week after receiving the order.
02
Production respected
On-site diagnostic mission with minimum impact on production.
03
On-site tested solutions
After a week of investigations, targeted measurements and close interaction with on-site personnel, initial solutions were proposed on site.
04
Overall vision and continuous improvement
Three additional pieces of rotating equipment were verified on-site to help improve production.
01
Increase production to target volumes
02
Reduce flaring as much as possible
03
Work with minimum disruption to production
This type of problem often involves complex issues with many possible root causes. A methodical approach was needed to answer all TotalEnergies / BV’s questions.
All available data and the history of the problem were analyzed by a cross-functional team.
A field analysis was required to assess the problem. Measurements were taken in carefully selected areas and process conditions. Dynamic pressures, vibration levels and deformations were analyzed, enabling critical areas to be defined.
There are many possible causes for pipe failures and high vibration levels in rotating equipment.
Specific solutions were proposed depending on the origin of the problem.
TotalEnergies applied the recommended mitigation measures.
In this sensitive case, TotalEnergies wanted to ensure that the piping system with the solutions implemented could indeed support the final production target; Vibratec was invited on site to confirm levels and conclude the project.
