New Businesses Offer Highly Efficient
Motors, Maintenance-free Multi Phase Meters
What happens when a leading global provider of technology solutions for the energy industry acquires and combines forces with two up-and-coming technology market leaders in their own right?
You get FMC Technologies continuing to offer its customers the most cutting-edge technologies and global innovations in the industry.
While it was only in the fourth quarter of 2009 that FMC acquired Direct Drive Systems (DDS), based in Fullerton, California, and Multi Phase Meters AS (MPM), based in Stavanger, Norway, the two companies are on the fast track in becoming important complements to an already progressive portfolio. The acquisitions expand FMC’s boosting and processing technologies, providing significant value for its customers.
Direct Drive Systems (DDS)
DDS has built a reputation for innovation, leading the way in developing compact, high-performance, multi-megawatt, permanent magnet motor (PMM) technology. PMM technology creates a much higher power density machine that translates into a significantly smaller package than conventional motors producing similar output. It also has more efficient energy conversion than conventional motors (less power required for the same output). It can be used for a variety of primary energy-related applications, including integral motors and related system components for compression and pumping including:
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Natural Gas Pipeline Compression
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Subsea Pumping and Boosting Applications
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Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs)
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Offshore Platform Gas Compression and Single or Multiphase Pumps
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Naval and Marine Applications
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Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Recompression
“DDS' strength in compact, high efficiency motors, combined with FMC's system integration capabilities, will result in enhanced value for our customers,” Peter D. Kinnear, FMC Chairman, President and CEO, said. “Our combined expertise and innovative technologies will allow for the creation of next-generation pumping and compression solutions, strengthening FMC's market-leading position in the important area of increased oil recovery.”
In addition to expanding FMC’s existing portfolio of products and services, DDS’ state-of-the-art motors enable highly efficient and cost-effective compression and pumping solutions. FMC will incorporate these attributes by:
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Integrating DDS motors into advanced pumping and compression systems for strategic markets, such as Subsea and Surface Increased Oil
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Recovery (IOR)Investing in DDS to broaden its technology footprint and to accelerate product development and integrated systems capabilities
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Combining FMC and DDS capabilities to produce “next-generation” pumping and compression solutions for a variety of onshore and offshore, topside and subsea, energy and processing applications.
“We are excited to join FMC and complement its industry leadership position,” Kevin McGlensey, DDS President and CEO, said. “Our talented employees and innovative designs are a strong strategic fit with FMC Technologies, and we will now have additional growth opportunities due to their broad global reach.”
The combination of the DDS PMM and DDS magnetic bearings make friction-free turbo machinery applications possible. Benefits of this technology include:
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Smaller size and weight result in reduced footprint and installation issues
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Same power generation as a motor twice the size
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Higher operational speeds enable higher pressure and higher flows
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Active magnetic bearings increase life, reliability and efficiency
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Eliminates need for a gearbox, providing greater reliability and lower maintenance requirements
DDS’ drive systems provide efficient and cost-effective compression, pumping, and generation solutions, and its motors and generators operate up to 23,000 RPM with power levels up to 16,000 HP. For more information, visit www.DirectDriveSystems.net.
Multi Phase Meters AS (MPM)
Like DDS, MPM is a global leader chosen to be a part of FMC’s portfolio because of its specializ ed technologies. Known for the development and manufacturing of the latest high-performing multiphase flow meters, MPM delivers high accuracy and self-calibrating multiphase meters with low maintenance features designed to meet the industry's increasing
ly demanding requirements for subsea applications as well as topside applications.
“By expanding our product offerings through MPM's advanced multiphase flow meters, FMC will be able to further optimize its subsea technologies and again bring significant value to our customers,” said Mr. Kinnear.
FMC’s customers will also find value in the product line’s consistently high accuracy over the full operating range of a well, regardless of gas fraction, water cut or fluid composition. The meters require virtually no maintenance and are constructed for a 25-year plus lifetime at extreme conditions.
"We are pleased to become part of FMC Technologies and believe that the combination will further advance our product lines and solutions for a global set of oil and gas customers," said Hans Olav Hide, Chief Executive Officer of MPM.
The MPM product line, combined with FMC's Increased Oil Recovery (IOR) portfolio of technologies, will enable an even more complete range of solutions. The high-performance meters, although relatively new to markets, are expected to have robust growth, keeping with FMC’s brand promise to always provide its customers’ with the latest in advanced technologies and solutions.
MPM’s technology is based on 3D tomography using high frequency and broadband transceivers in combination with high rate data processing capabilities. Other facets of the meters include:
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Unparalleled measurement accuracy
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Robust for different flow regimes
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Dual Mode – combining wet gas and multiphase flow functionality (covers full gas volume fraction range)
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Easy field configuration procedure with self calibration capabilities
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Salinity measurement allowing for water formation detection capabilities
For more information check out the website at: http://www.mpm-no.com.