Adjustable-speed drive applications in the oil and gas pipeline industry

The characteristics of the various applications pipeline companies have made using adjustable-speed drives for starting and running large electric motors, driving pumps, and compressors on pipelines and ancillary systems are reviewed. Included is a survey of pipeline industry users of adjustable-speed drives, organized by the application and type of drive within an application. The authors discuss actual operating experience with all project phases, including specification, testing, installation, operations, and maintenance of these installations of adjustable-speed drives. The different types of drive (of the adjustable-frequency type) are identified. A discussion of the economics of such drives, as well as standards for measuring the efficiency of the drives, is included.<>