Turbo Lab wraps up Centrifugal Compressor Operations short course in Houston

When faced with a new challenge at work, Laura Donnelly turned to a familiar resource to sharpen her skills for the project.

Donnelly, a rotating equipment specialist at ConocoPhillips in Houston, is responsible for overseeing the design of a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility that transports natural gas to shore. She reviews documents and drawings to ensure the FPSO’s pumps and compressors will perform optimally, and analyzes 3D models to ensure equipment can be accessed for maintenance.

A colleague of Donnelly’s told her about the Centrifugal Compressor Operations for 21st Century Users (CCOps) offered by the Turbomachinery Laboratory in March, and it piqued her interest.

“I took a Turbo Lab short course several years ago, and it was a very good course with top instructors,” Donnelly said. “As soon as I learned about new course content that fit my current role, I signed up.”

CCOps is intended for beginning-and intermediate-level professionals to accelerate their understanding of centrifugal compressors and how they are used in oil & gas applications. The course covers design aspects, aerodynamics, rotordynamics, the practical applications of installation, testing, commissioning and procurement.

The CCOps course taught Donnelly best practices for installing equipment offshore, including the design aspects that must be considered when assembling such equipment.

“My experience in CCOps was really great,” Donnelly said. “The attendees come from all different backgrounds—some work for original equipment manufacturers and some are end-users—so you learn a lot about the issues people see in different industries. The instructors are experts in their fields, and they cater to the people attending.”

Instructors include Jim Sorokes of Dresser-Rand, A Siemens Business, J. Jeffrey Moore of Southwest Research Institute, Mark Sandberg of Sandberg Turbomachinery Consulting, LLC, and Jigger Jumonville of Jumonville Engineering. The four instructors’ combined experience surpasses 100 years.

Moore, a Texas A&M graduate, has taught the course for 10 years. Despite its history, the material stays fresh with additions of latest technological advancements and new case studies.

“What makes Turbo Lab short courses unique is not only discussions around cutting edge-technology, but the caliber of my fellow instructors,” Moore said. “It’s a good mix. Each of them has many years of experience in the industry, and some are consultants, while others are OEMs.”

My experience in CCOps was really great. The attendees come from all different backgrounds—some work for original equipment manufacturers and some are end-users—so you learn a lot about the issues people see in different industries. The instructors are experts in their fields, and they cater to the people attending.

Laura Donnelly
ConocoPhillips, rotating equipment specialist