Potential Solutions for Sound Attenuation in Gas Pipeline Transmission and Compression Stations

Introduction

Gas pipelines and pipeline transmission have been consolidated throughout the last decades as the most conventional modality to transfer large quantities of natural gas over long distances. Still, as well as acquiring more centrality in geostrategic terms, pipeline networks have become even more complicated in technical ones, so needing the inclusion of additional distribution hubs and compression stations. Compressor stations constitute indeed a key component with a view to concentrate and move pressurized gas along the pipelines.

Moreover, gas compressor stations and pipeline networks occupy a vast area in national territories due to their supplying role. This combination of territorial presence and technical sophistication has led this infrastructure to prevail as one of the most harmful creators of chronic noise pollution.

 

Sources of noise and noise levels

Technically speaking, the longer the pipeline is, the bigger is the necessity of to increase the pressure used and to encompass additional compression stations. Due to such a variety of equipment placed on this infrastructure, gas pipeline complexes can easily become catalysts of excessive noise generation.

According to several international regulations, as we face a noise level between 79dB(A) and 85dB(A), the source is already violating health and safety standards. Exceeding such standard values, as compressor stations usually do with a noise level up to 100 dB(A), means making a pretty large number of people the subject of noise exposure. As a matter of fact, not only does this put at risk the safety of nearby neighbors – as well as the environment – but also the adjacent infrastructure hosting workers and specialized personnel.

 

Available solutions and methods of attenuation

The most fruitful strategy when it comes to gas transmission infrastructure is to address noise generation directly at its source. There are several solutions that can be employed to achieve attenuation and stay within safe noise parameters. Among them, multistage control valves can be applied to reduce trim discharge velocity and, consequently, reduce the scale of the noise generated.

However, In-Line Silencers represent the best solution proposed by Stopson Italiana to tackle the issue, which has already been chosen for the installation within the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). These peculiar pieces are designed specifically to reduce the noise generated by valves and compressors in piping systems. This typology of Silencers allows to achieve noise attenuation only through reactive components, while do not include any section that would produce an absorbing action. Each Silencer provides an acoustic guarantee approximately equal to 30 dB(A).

The noise level from gas pipelines can be brought back to the increasingly stringent standards also by combining different soundproofing techniques, such as acoustic screens and acoustic insulation components.

 

Our Service

Any company or institution in charge of manufacturing a gas pipeline complex can rely on Stopson Italiana to provide the system with an efficient soundproofing solution, so avoiding detrimental consequences for surrounding individuals and adjacent infrastructure.

Through our customer management, we can assure a screening consultation to evaluate the scope of your project: how many Silencers your complex needs and at which specific points along the pipeline should be installed to achieve the objectives set previously.

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Soundproofing Solutions for Oil and Gas Industry

Tackling noise-related problems in the Oil and Gas industry

INTRODUCTION

Oil and gas acquisition, refinement, and distribution require the work of several complicated machine networks, some of which produce significant harmful noise. Not only do high decibel levels impact nearby neighbors, but prolonged exposure hurts workers who operate close to the noise sources. This exposure leads to unnecessary long-term health effects that degrade workers’ quality of life. While restricting your hours of operation for noisy blowdowns makes life easier for neighbors, you need further measures to protect your workers.

NOISE MEASUREMENTS: A QUICK UNDERSTANDING

Noise intensity is measured in decibel units (dBA). The dBA scale is logarithmic; each 10-dBA increase represents a tenfold increase in noise intensity. Human perception of loudness also conforms to a logarithmic scale; a 10-dBA increase is perceived as roughly a doubling of loudness.

Thus, 30 dBA is 10x more intense than 20 dBA and sounds twice as loud; 40 dBA is 100x more intense than 20 and sounds 4 times as loud; 80 dBA is 1 million times more intense than 20 and sounds 64 times as loud.

Distance from the source and duration of the exposure are also to take into account.

In general, we can say that, subjected to 45 dBA of noise, people cannot sleep. At 120 dBA the ear registers pain, but hearing damage begins at a much lower level, about 85 dBA.

WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE SOLUTION?

​​With oil and gas operations producing so much noise, any noise control products have to be customized to each worksite to have their maximum effect.

Due to the various compressors, pumps, furnaces, blowers, extractors, and other equipment placed on this kind of complex, it comes as no surprise that the possible solutions are different according to what the project is trying to accomplish.

Here are some examples of soundproofing products:

  • Acoustic Cabins and Enclosures

Acoustic Enclosures are available for generator sets, pump sets, compressors, and other machines and installations, while Cabins are usually more suited for mud pump rooms, engine rooms, or complete driller cabins. Both can be designed for customers’ particular requirements so that it is a perfect fit for their plant.

  • Ventilation sets, silencers and acoustic louvres

A ventilation set includes an air inlet and air outlet system for the ventilation of heat radiation, air inlets for combustion air, and eventually a purge system. Possibly including Silencers, acoustic louvers, heat tracing, demister panels, filtration systems, dampers, anti-condensation heaters, and redundancy.

Stopson Italiana available silencers:

  1. Vent Silencers
  2. Engine Exhaust Silencers
  3. Intake & Stack Silencers
  4. Ventilation & Duct Silencers
  5. In-line Silencers
  • Sound insulating doors

Soundproofing doors with high sound insulation values and possibly fire resistance properties. With a clean design and fully customizable, they are therefore very appropriate to place anywhere where noise insulation is essential.

CONCLUSIONS

Following an initial consultation path with a leading industrial and environmental noise control manufacturer, is the quickest and most effective way to solve complex noise mitigation challenges like the ones faced by Oil and Gas professionals.

Stopson Italiana’s extensive knowledge and experience providing turnkey industrial noise control solutions to the Oil and Gas industry since 1965, ensure the supply of comprehensive acoustical solutions in support of meeting customer mandatory requirements and their soundproofing objectives.

CONTACT US!






crude oil price production

Crude Oil Price: a “mindful” growing confidence for 2017

Expectations and confidence: Goldman Sachs (GS) on the new Donald Trump policy to support crude oil prices.

Initially Donald Trump’s victory, the strengthening dollar, rising US crude oil rigs, and high crude oil, gasoline, and distillate inventories could limit the upside for prices.

Goldman Sachs (GS) expects that successful implementation of OPEC (Organization of the Oil Exporting Countries). Non-OPEC producers’ plan to cut production will reduce the oversupply in the market and support crude oil prices.
Goldman Sachs expects Brent to average $58 per barrel in 2017—compared to its previous forecast of $51.50 per barrel. Likewise, it expects WTI crude oil prices to average $57.50 per barrel for the same period.
However, a recent Reuters report may be showing there was more to the decision to cut production. While the supply imbalance was first the main reason for the cut, now reports are surfacing that prior production levels may have been testing capacity limits.

The Reduction forecast

OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels/day from Jan. 1, with top exporter Saudi Arabia cutting as much as 486,000 barrels/day.
Non-OPEC oil producers (such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan) agreed to reduce output by 558,000 barrels/day. And this latter starting from Jan. 1, 2017 for six months, to take into account prevailing market conditions and prospects.
Nevertheless, the successful implementation of Donald Trump’s energy policies would lead to a rise in US crude oil production. The rise in non-OPEC production in 2017 would also pressure crude oil prices. A Wall Street Journal survey of major banks predicts that US and Brent prices will average $54 per barrel and $56 per barrel in 2017, respectively. It’s $1 per barrel more than the previous estimates.
Let’s see in June which effects of this policy in the oil market.