Technology Programmes
Corac is engaged in research and development work in a number of technology programmes designed to prove the capabilities and benefits of our core technologies.
These programmes draw upon our own investment funding and through partnership with world leaders in the energy industry.
Our two leading programmes are developing innovative gas compressor technology for two applications. The Downhole Gas Compressor (DGC) operates underground in the confines of a gas well to enhance production from that well. The In-pipe Gas Compressor (IGC) operates above ground in the surface pipelines to manage wellhead pressure and gas transport.
The DGC is the original energy sector application of Corac’s core technologies and is focused on creating a high speed, high power compressor in a very compact package that can artificially lift gas to the surface and remain in operation for extended periods of time to minimise interruptions in gas production.
To achieve this we have developed technology in:
- Permanent magnet motors to provide high speed operation in a very small package
- Advanced aerodynamics to design impellers and diffusers that produce the maximum throughput of gas in very limited available space
- Downhole electronics that place motor drive systems in the same package as the motors to allow operation several kilometres underground
- Gas bearings that are contactless and so free from frictional losses or wear to enable long term operation without maintenance stops
The IGC programme has built upon the lessons learned in the early development of the DGC and added some innovative thinking to produce larger, more powerful machines for surface operation. The key advances here are:
- Multi-stage configuration to provide a wide range of compression in each unit with modular deployment across a gas field to manage network performance
- More powerful permanent magnet motors to operate at higher pressures and flow rates than was possible with the more compact DGC
- Flexible configuration with ancillary components to manage gas condition and flow through the machine