While this may look like a psychedelic machine shop, it is actually a tried and true method to evaluate a part for cracks. Every use for a black light is pretty cool. Want to know more about non-destructive test methods for oil and gas equipment? Visit us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 7-9, 2024 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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What does “about to have a come apart” actually mean? This failure is unique in that there were 2 contributing factors — in the highlighted circles, notice the visible thread width difference in red. Also, pay attention to the broken bolts in yellow. This failure was caused by overtightening of the bolt in red during installation. On the night of the failure, temperatures dropped to “once in a decade” kind of lows. The additional strain from overtightening and thermal contraction overwhelmed the smaller bolts in yellow. The result looks like Popeye’s spinach can. Want to learn about more failures and how to prevent them? Visit us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 7-9, 2024 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Do you have an electric gremlin residing in one of your units? The problems are often traced back to grounding. These photos show arcing between the crankshaft and bearing. Want to know what to look for and where to find it? Join us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 2-4, 2023 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh to learn more. 

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Reworked parts are a less expensive route to go when money is tight, but not addressing the root cause of the failure can prove even more costly. Torsional issues and improper repair practices can result in even more issues down the road. These photos show a failed crankshaft that became embrittled after a weld repair that failed again due to torsional issues. Come see us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 2-4, 2023 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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Taking a slug doesn’t mean what it once did… Trying to compress liquids in reciprocating compressors can cause catastrophic damage to the equipment. Want to learn more about how to prevent this from happening? Come see us at the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable on May 2-4, 2023 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

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