The role of process compressors in the oil & gas industry

Process compressors are used worldwide in countless applications. From refrigeration to powering medical tools, food packaging to refining gas, you likely encounter products every day that are made possible thanks to process compressors.

At Rochem, most of our customers are in the oil and gas industries. Process compressors are absolutely essential to their success. Here’s a closer look at what makes them so important.

What are process compressors?

Process compressors compress gas or vapours for industrial use. There are different designs of process compressors, but they all work by reducing the volume of gas to increase pressure. If you’re interested, this article explains more about how process compressors work.

Why are they essential in the gas & oil industry?

Process compressors are used at different stages of gas and oil operations, e.g.:

Gas and oil gathering

• Compressed gas is injected into wells to reduce the density and viscosity of oil, making it easier to bring fluids to the surface and thus more oil is gathered.
• When natural pressure drops, compressors help maintain pressure and flow in pipelines.
• In some processes, for instance, when crude oil transitions from high to low pressure, gases can escape and could be lost. Process compressors capture and recompress these gases, making them usable and reducing emissions.

Transport and storage

• Process compressors maintain and boost pressure in pipelines that transport gas over long distances.
• They also be used to standardize the pressure of gas collected from multiple sources.

Processing

• When it comes to processing gas into useful products, process compressors play a crucial role. Compressors inject gases like methane and hydrogen into reactors at optimal pressures for processes such as reforming, cracking, or hydrogenation.
• They enable recycling of unreacted gases by recompressing them for use. Finished products are compressed for storage or transport.
• Refrigeration, made possible by process compressors, is also a key process in the gas and oil industry e.g. to separate, liquify or stabilize hydrocarbons.

Different types of process compressors

While all process compressors share the same purpose, they are designed for specific roles. The three main types are:

• Centrifugal Compressors – Use high-speed rotating blades to accelerate gas, then slow it down to convert kinetic energy into pressure energy.
• Reciprocating Compressors – Use pistons to compress gas within cylinders by reducing its volume.
• Rotary Screw Compressors – Use screws rotating in opposite directions to draw in and compress gas.

We covered the different types of process compressors in more detail in a previous article. Click here to learn more.

Key considerations in compressor selection

It’s important to choose the most appropriate process compressor for your application. Think about the capabilities of the compressor, what you need it to achieve and what will be involved in its upkeep. Keep in mind:

• Flow rate
• Pressure ratio
• Gas composition
• Efficiency
• Reliability
• Maintenance requirements
• Cost

Your OEM is likely to provide guidance or be able to help you choose the right type.

Efficiency and sustainability

As technology advances, compressors are becoming more efficient and reliable. This reduces operating costs, increases profitability, and lowers emissions—helping companies meet environmental targets while protecting the bottom line.

If you’re not ready to invest in the latest model and/or want to maintain your crucial equipment to keep it working for you, we’re here to help.

Get in touch

At Rochem, it’s our business to enable the cleaning of gas turbine compressors, helping achieve all those efficiency and emissions targets while delaying the need to replace expensive equipment. Fouling is extremely detrimental to process compressor function, but it can be remedied through cost-effective cleaning equipment and chemicals.

With over 40 years of industry experience, we understand the critical roles process compressors play in oil and gas. We support customers worldwide and would be glad to discuss how we can help. Contact our team today to learn more.