Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline (Southern Star) is seeking Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to modify its Welda Compressor Station (CS) located in Anderson County, Kansas, as part of its Welda Storage Expansion project. The project will involve overhauling and uprating three gas-fired turbine compressor units and replacing various appurtenances, which will increase the total station horsepower by 1350 hp (1007 kW). The purpose of the project is to increase deliverability of the Welda Storage Complex by 14 MMscf/d (39.6 × 107 m3/d), increase deliverability of the Elk City Storage Field by 14 MMscf/d, and increase available firm storage capacity by approximately 0.9 Bscf/d (25.5 × 106 m3/d) by converting storage working gas capacity previously utilized for interruptible storage capacity.
The modifications at Welda CS will include modifying the combustion portion of three turbines by upgrading the power turbine portion of the units from 4250 to 4700 hp (3171 to 3506 kW). The two existing Solar Centaur 40 Model 4002 and 4502 power turbines will be replaced with Centaur 40 Model 4700 power turbines. The existing Centaur 40 Model 4002 power turbine on will be replaced with a Centaur 40 Model 4700S, equipped with Solar’s SoLoNOx technology. The additional compressor units at Welda CS include a 6107-hp (4556-kW) Solar Centaur compressor and five 1350 hp Cooper-Bessemer GMVA-10 reciprocating compressors and will not be affected by this project.
