Celeros Flow Technology has injected new life right into a heritage pump for a Canadian heavy oil recovery customer, enabling them to extend manufacturing. The pump – a Mather & Platt BB5 – was greater than 40 years old and had been topic to quite a few post-installation alterations.
Heavy oil deposits are extraordinarily viscous and require the injection of excessive strain, excessive temperature steam to enhance fluidity and allow the oil to be pumped to the floor. In order to spice up extraction on this challenge, the shopper wanted to extend water temperatures from 90° C to 140° C. However, there were concerns that the present pump could not have the ability to deliver this requirement. pressure gauge had been a particular concern. They turned to Celeros Flow Technology model ClydeUnion Pumps, their most well-liked supplier of some 20 years, for assistance.
Mather & Platt is considered one of several heritage pump manufacturers for which Celeros Flow Technology offers full lifecycle support1. Their aftermarket engineering team undertook a thorough examination of the quadragenarian Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) boiler feed water pump used within the heavy oil extraction course of. The investigation revealed that the pump had suffered a selection of seal failures over time that had broken the stuffing box and affected operational efficiency. There had also been no maintenance interventions for decades – however the pump had never truly failed.
Says Mike Golds, Global Upgrade and Rerate Programme Manager for ClydeUnion Pumps: “It is testament to the quality of the unique pump that it had continued to operate in such harsh circumstances and with no common upkeep over such a protracted time period. More importantly, it gave us confidence that a thorough overhaul could achieve the desired enchancment in efficiency, saving the client the fee and lost production time that can be related to sourcing and putting in a new unit.”
Celeros Flow Technology overhauled the SAGD pump and carried out a mechanical seal improve and Plan 23 seal flush to optimize pump efficiency. In addition, finite component evaluation was undertaken to substantiate that the nozzle loads would withstand the desired temperature improve. As a outcome, the pump is now capable of delivering steam at the greater temperatures required. The seal upgrades ensure it meets the latest specifications.
Concludes Mike Golds: “We are really pleased with the finish result of the SAGD pump improve. It has not solely achieved the specified production increase for the shopper, but additionally provided a extra sustainable and cost-effective solution than complete pump alternative. Using digital pressure gauge and evaluation, we’ve been able to give the prevailing pump a brand new lease of life and guarantee it’ll continue to perform nicely for many more years.”
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