Case Study: Ranger Gas

Published on Jun 10, 2009

Ranger Gas is a stripping facility that removes NGLs from gas in order to make it ready for pipeline transport. The main plant is located in a remote site just outside Ranger, TX. Mike Gryder is one of the site’s primary mechanics.PROBLEM:Too many resources spent on maintenance.Older equipment, some from the 1980sTurbocharger damage due to backfiring engineLots of time/energy/resources used up on repairsConstant replacing and repairing of magnetosLack of troubleshooting capabilities, repairs were done through manual testing.Not getting maximum efficiency from the enginesNo remote monitoringSpark plug life not long enoughRanger Gas wanted a definitive upgrade. They wanted to catch up to the present, with the ability to add remote monitoring in the future.“Our Murphy engine controls were still running after 20 years, but we needed new ignitions and new technologies. Our old ignition systems kept backfiring the engine and damaging the turbocharger. We also didn’t have all the end devices we needed, just a basic annunciator panel.We had a lot of end devices still on the engine. We were doing all our troubleshooting manually. It was real spread out and hands-on all the time. It could be done, but it took more work for us.”– Mike GryderIMPLEMENTATION:Murphy replaced 20-year old pneumatic Tattletale® panels with two new compressor panels that combined the main end devices into a single group interface.Outfitted panels with TTD annunciators for shutdown and TDXM pyrometers for temperature scanning.The panel and controller selections Included communications capabilitiesReplaced traditional magneto-based ignition controllers with microprocessor-based Murphy Power Ignition controllers (MPI-8 and MPI-32).Added Murphy’s patented Smart Coils™ to the ignition system for true secondary diagnostics and benefits such as longer spark plug life.Installation performed and supported locally by Gulf Coast Ignition, a member of Murphy’s international dealer network.Murphy and Gulf Coast Ignition coordinated on providing operational training classes for Ranger employees.“When we upgraded, we wanted automated startups. We wanted secondary diagnostics. And we wanted remote communications for the future. Murphy supported us through the installations, and even included training on the new equipment. We were very satisfied.” – Mike GryderRESULTS:Longer uptime on enginesLonger spark plug lifeMore reliance on pre-scheduled preventative maintenance instead of surprise equipment failuresAutomated ignition and shutdown that reacts to conditions of the engine and surrounding environmentMeasuring fuel usage, and expects to see strong savings in consumption and related fuel costs.“Now we can set the timing on each individual cylinder, we can adjust the Kv to each plug. We’ve got the automation we wanted, and we’re getting longer plug life.”“The remote communications are very good. Someday we want to be able to check our compressors from our house.”– Mike GryderCONTACTS:FW MurphyMark Pelham, territory sales manager432.520.3348 (w)432.634.4324 (c)mpelham@fwmurphy.comGulf Coast IgnitionEd Ansell281.844.4402Doug Irwin 972.672.8723Ranger GasRobert Beard, president 254.631.1546 (c)Mike Gryder, mechanic254.631.2759 (w)254.647.5263 (f)