Power Station Gas Turbine Desktop Review

Brief

Situation

A customer requested AJSS to undertake a desktop assessment of the current condition of seven gas turbine engines located at their power station in Western Australia in July of 2021. The customer owned the power station and provided power to the local power system. With the growth of alternative power sources in the region, such as wind turbines and the aging of the existing equipment, the customer engaged AJSS to provide a desktop review of the existing equipment’s current condition to determine economic resale value.

Task

The objective was to deliver an overview of the current health status and condition of each engine with recommendations to assist the customer in recognising whether there is any potential resale value. The purpose of undertaking the desktop review was to provide the reader with a preliminary asset condition assessment through reviewing existing documentation, reports and performance data.

Action

The review assessed condition-based information supplied by the customer, including run hours, vibration data, engine performance data, lube oil analysis and borescope reports. The Condition-Based and Financial Assessments were carried out on all seven gas turbine engines.

Result

From the data and information supplied, an indicative engine condition and resale viability were delineated, although it is important to note that it was certainly not conclusive. From the outcomes of the Condition and Financial assessments, the limiting aspects and resale viability were identified for each engine. AJSS made recommendations on how to provide a more accurate, up-to-date and package-encompassing assessment. Recommendations were also made on how the customer could maintain the potential resale value of the viable turbine engines.

Personnel

Lead

BD & Marketing Director

Anthony Ryan

Anthony started his career in the Oil & Gas Industry as a Drilling and Well Completions Engineer. After completing a bachelor’s Degree in Petroleum Engineering (1 st Hons) from Curtin University, he worked in the field both internationally and in Australia with secondments to Otto Energy, Woodside Energy and Vermillion Oil & Gas Australia. Anthony then transitioned into downstream operations where he was engaged as an onboard Production & Operations Engineer and Company Representative on the Northern Endeavour FPSO in the Timor Sea. Anthony has gained a vast experience in the management of wells, topside process systems, gas compression, gas injection, power generation, crude oil rundown and cargo offtake coordination and was responsible for developing strategies, procedures and solutions to increase production, reduce OPEX and improve plant reliability.

Lead

Managing Director

Peter Hootsen

Peter holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Hons) from Monash University and an Advance Diploma in Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering from the Engineering Institute of Technology in Perth. Peter has 9+ years of experience working within the Gas Transmission Industry and began his career with Jemena in 2010 as a graduate Engineer. Peter then moved into the role of Rotating Equipment Engineer and later Senior Rotating Equipment Engineer as well as other various roles within Jemena. Peter's experience includes; condition and performance monitoring, operation and control room support, asset strategy development, project management, project support, maintenance strategy, maintenance scheduling, engineering assessments, asset management and on-call support. Peter is experienced with turbine engines, reciprocating engines, gas reciprocating and centrifugal compressors, fuel systems, compressed air systems, control systems and various static equipment. Peter is a Chartered Professional Engineer, Professional Engineer of Queensland and a Certified Practitioner of Asset Management.

Lead

Technical Director

Robert Graf

Robert holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology and a MBA in Administration (International Finance) from the University of San Diego. He started his professional career in 1977 as a Development Test Engineer for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT, working on FAA flight engine certification programs for the JT8D-209 and JT9D commercial jet engines and in 1980 joined Solar Turbines in San Diego, holding a variety of technical positions culminating the role of Principal Regional Field Engineer for Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. Robert was responsible for the field technical support of complete industrial gas turbine driven generator and compressor packages, and Balance of Plant, used in the oil and gas and power generation industries. Robert’s technical specialties include programming of Logic Controllers, rotor vibration analysis, gas turbine package systems and controls, and gas turbine aerodynamic performance testing. He developed and executed equipment upgrade and retrofit controls products, creating the process control designs, performing the programming tasks, then installing and commissioning these products in the field. Robert also managed a group of 10 Field Service Representatives who were responsible for commissioning and repair of the gas turbine packages. Robert retired from Solar Turbines in March 2018 and joins the AJSS team based out of Singapore. In 2020 Robert was appointed Technical Director.