Amarinth Designs Bespoke Low NPSH Pumping Solution for Nigeria’s NLNG Delivery Pipeline
Amarinth API 610 pump integrated with a specialised, upstream vacuum unit for lifting fluids where there is exceptionally low NPSH (Image source: Amarinth Ltd.)
The Gbetiokun Field, located within the Niger Delta's OML 40 license area, is a vital oil and gas asset. As part of an infrastructure expansion to scale up its contribution to the national delivery network, four drain disposal pumps were required for an onshore facility along the NLNG crude delivery pipeline.
However, the project hit a major technical roadblock when the pumps had to empty a tank located beneath them. This configuration created an exceptionally low Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) which, if not addressed, would cause pump cavitation and risk severe equipment damage. Several pump manufacturers were initially consulted, but none could deliver a viable solution for these extreme operating conditions. Recognising the need for a specialist skills, the project engineers ultimately turned to Amarinth.
Leveraging its extensive expertise in designing pumps for very low NPSH environments, Amarinth worked closely with the pipeline engineers to develop a bespoke solution. The resulting system eliminates the need for a priming chamber by integrating an API 610 pump with a specialised, upstream vacuum unit to generate the necessary suction, ensuring reliable operation without a traditional suction head. The system includes:
Venturi Effect Ejector: The primary unit will utilise an ejector to create a vacuum in the pipework, lifting the process fluid to the pump. By exploiting the venturi effect, the design has very few moving parts, minimising failure points and ensuring the system is ATEX compliant for hazardous areas.
Automated Fluid Management: Managed by an automated control system, the unit will expel air from the pipework to lift fluid to the pump level. Once the centrifugal pump is fully primed, it will be automatically switched on and the primary unit switched off.
Modular and Flexible Design: The self-priming units will be fully modular. The material of the priming unit is specified to match the pipework and pump, and key components selected to suit the customer-specific Approved Vendor List (AVL).
This innovative approach provides a commercially viable solution to a predicament that had previously stalled the project's progress.
Oliver Brigginshaw, Managing Director of Amarinth, commented: “We are delighted to have partnered on this challenging project for the NLNG pipeline. Our ability to engineer bespoke solutions where others cannot is a testament to our technical agility and deep understanding of fluid dynamics. This project further underlines our commitment to supporting the Nigerian oil and gas industry with reliable, high-performance pumping technology."
Source: Amarinth Ltd.
