Page 125 - Air and gas Drilling Field Guide 3rd Edition

116 CHAPTER 5 Compressors and Nitrogen Generators

Surface Location Elevation (m)
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
40

35 Naturally Aspirated
Percent Reduction in Input Power 25
30

20

15

10
Turbocharged
5

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
Surface Location Elevation (ft)

FIGURE 5-15. Prime mover percentage reduction in power as a function of elevation above sea
level [1].

Primary Compressor System Unit
Primary compressor system units take air directly from the atmosphere. These
compressor systems can be rotary or reciprocating compressors. The compressors
in these units can be single stage or multistage. The prime movers for these units
can be fueled by gasoline, propane/butane, diesel, or natural gas. These units can
be fabricated as skid mounted, as wheeled trailers, or semitrailer mounted.

Booster Compressor System Unit
Booster compressor system units are operated downstream from a primary compres-
sor system (sometimes these units are denoted as secondary units). They accept
compressed air from the primary compressor system and compress the air to a
higher pressure before sending the air to the drilling rig. Also, a booster compressor
system can accept compressed natural gas (or other gases) from a pipeline and com-
press that gas to a higher pressure before sending the gas to the drilling rig. The
compressors in these units are all reciprocating compressors. The compressors in
these units can be single stage or multistage. The prime movers for these units can
be fueled by gasoline, propane/butane, diesel, or natural gas. These units can be
fabricated as skid mounted, semitrailer mounted, or as wheeled trailers.