Tellurian chooses Baker Hughes for electric compressors

Baker Hughes will provide four 19 MW ICL compressors and other turbomachinery equipment for Tellurian.

Tellurian has chosen Baker Hughes to provide electric powered compressor and turbomachinery equipment for natural gas transmission pipelines proposed for southwest Louisiana.

The contract marks the first time Baker Hughes will install its Integrated Compressor Line (ICL) technology for pipeline compression in North America. The project will include four 19 MW ICL compressors and other turbomachinery equipment for a total of four compressor trains and a LM6000PD+ gas turbine for backup power for the initial phase of the pipeline project at Driftwood’s Indian Bayou Compressor Station.

“This landmark project and technology will eliminate nearly all emissions for the proposed project, which Tellurian is developing to supply natural gas to a constrained capacity area,” said Tellurian president and CEO Octavio Simoes. “We value Baker Hughes’ expertise and look forward to partnering on delivering cleaner solutions for an energy hungry world.”

“We anticipate the project will supply upwards of five and one-half billion cubic feet of natural gas daily, with virtually no emissions. Tellurian is doing its part by making this initial $240 million pipeline investment as part of the broader Driftwood Pipeline system which will provide enhanced supply reliability to meet the area’s projected industrial growth in a cleaner, more sustainable manner,” said Joey Mahmoud, president of Tellurian Pipelines.

“Our customers around the world are pressing for decarbonization solutions now, especially as they seek to provide both energy security and more sustainable natural gas supplies in the years to come,” said Rod Christie, executive vice president of Turbomachinery & Process Solutions at Baker Hughes. “Our zero-emissions ICL technology is already reducing the climate footprint of pipeline projects in many regions that deliver vital gas supplies, and now we are bringing it to North America, a region crucial to meeting global natural gas demand.”

The ICL zero-emissions integrated compressor offers a more reduced footprint and weight, as well as improved operational flexibility and availability compared to conventional electric motor driven trains. While this project marks the technology’s first U.S. application, more than 50 units have been deployed, primarily in Europe, across a variety of applications including pipeline and offshore. The compressors are built with hermitically sealed casing ensuring no emissions, and require minimal downtime due to magnetic bearings for oil-free, more efficient operations and minimized maintenance while boosting reliability, Baker Hughes said.

Tellurian, based in Houston, Texas, Is building Driftwood LNG, an LNG production and export terminal on the west bank of the Calcasieu River, south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Once complete, the terminal will be capable of exporting 27.6 mtpa of LNG.