Shute Creek Gas Plant Gets Easier on the Ears

Severe vibration and high noise levels were causing major problems at Exxon’s Shute Creek gas processing plant, especially when the complete piping structure would vibrate during a venting scenario. Poor control valve performance often times exemplified by undesired side effects such as pipe vibration or excessive noise can hinder successful plant operation, all of which lead to an eventual plant shutdown.

Among the options presented, Shute Creek’s option to resolve the matter was to use an angle design valve that would have only added a significant amount of money to the project due to the accommodating piping changes that would have to take place. By taking into account current process conditions as well as ones that could develop in future operation, CCI was able to provide a 20-in. x 42-in. (500-mm x 1050-mm) globe valve whose DRAG® design was customized to meet the noise requirements at Shute Creek’s pressure ration. Utilizing the advantage of properly applied disk stack technology to control velocity will allow Shute Creek’s noise and vibration problem to be significantly reduced to meet the valve’s necessary requirements and provide the facility with a safer and more reliable plant operation.

Published in SOLUTIONS Winter 2001