Teaming for Success

Ferguson Beauregard takes pride in its well-earned reputation as a company that not only supplies products used in the recovery, metering and distribution of oil and natural gas, but as one that will go above and beyond in ensuring that a customer’s project reaches a satisfactory conclusion. Recently, Ferguson Beauregard’s industry knowledge and expertise came in handy when the company teamed with M2M Data Corporation, Denver, CO, to provide automated remote monitoring and alarm notification of critical gas-compression operation parameters for M2M’s client, Exterran Corporation, at its operations base located in Tuscaloosa, AL. Exterran, Houston, TX, is a new company that has several thousand gas compressors in service throughout the United States, making it a major supplier of compression services to the gas production and transmission industry.

Many production wells in densely drilled fields or in fields having marginal pressure-drive capabilities require the assistance of gas-compression facilities that boost the pressure of the well’s output to sufficient magnitude in order to deliver the gas to the pipeline transmission network. In circumstances where a gas compressor may incur a fault condition resulting in a shutdown of the unit, significant gas sales revenues can be lost until the unit’s operation can be restored. To facilitate detection of such occurrences, Exterran selected Ferguson Beauregard and M2M Data Corporation as the suppliers for an automated-monitoring and alarm-callout solution.

Operating against a very tight deadline, Ferguson Beauregard provided automation technicians to complete all necessary equipment installation and line-outs. Long days in the field and dedicated efforts resulted in completing the project on time and to the satisfaction of the client. More than 40 compressors were automated, each equipped with a Ferguson Beauregard model EFM3000 Flow Computer Unit, an M2M Data Alert/Optimizer Remote Terminal Unit, a satellite data transceiver, solar and battery power subsystem, and electronic sensors for monitoring compressor performance, including pressures, temperatures and engine-run status. Cable trenches were run and filled with conduit for wire connectivity of all the equipment. Electrical junction boxes were mounted on compressor panels for housing of the electronic sensors. Some of the M2M equipment also required 480-volt AC to 110-volt AC connections.

The Ferguson Beauregard team completed all requirements in a professional way, ensuring each installation complied with all applicable electrical safety codes. M2M technicians arrived on site, following the Ferguson Beauregard team, to commission the satellite receivers and validate data transfer to the M2M Web-hosting and database computer facilities in Denver. Through these facilities, Exterran compressor technicians receive notification via cell phone and/or e-mail whenever a compressor incurs a fault condition. As well, the client can access a customized and secure Web site for viewing of the EFM3000 production data and operational parameters provided by the electronic sensors.

The success of this project has convinced Ferguson Beauregard to pursue additional gas-compressor automation projects, with expectations of closing on several additional opportunities in the near future.