According to media reports on July 13， China National Petroleum Corporation’s first fully domestically produced 40 MPa high-pressure， large-displacement centrifugal gas injection compressor has been successfully deployed at the Yaha Gas Storage Facility in the Tarim Oilfield. This facility， China’s first deep， in-service condensate gas field storage， is currently undergoing installation and commissioning， with official operation planned for October.
The deployment of this equipment marks a significant milestone， signifying China’s achievement of 100% domestic production in key core equipment for gas storage facilities. This breakthrough effectively dismantles foreign technological monopolies and provides robust technical support for ensuring national energy security. This advancement is particularly crucial given the global push towards diversifying energy sources and enhancing domestic energy resilience， demonstrating China’s commitment to self-sufficiency in critical industrial sectors.
The Yaha Gas Storage Facility， located in Kuqa City， Aksu， Xinjiang， is recognized as China’s inaugural deep， in-service condensate gas field storage. Its development is progressing in two phases. Phase I has already established a working gas capacity of 2.4 billion cubic meters， crucial for seasonal peak shaving and emergency gas supply to five prefectures in southern Xinjiang. Upon completion of Phase II， the facility’s strategic working gas capacity will increase to 5 billion cubic meters， providing substantial support for peak shaving and strategic emergency needs within the West-East Gas Pipeline network. The expansion highlights the growing demand for stable gas supplies and the strategic importance of such facilities in China’s energy infrastructure.
This domestically produced compressor boasts exceptional performance， with a daily natural gas processing capacity of 5.5 million cubic meters and a gas injection pressure of up to 40 MPa (equivalent to 400 atmospheres). Its 23 MW motor power will significantly enhance the efficiency of gas injection operations at the storage facility. The high processing capacity and pressure capabilities underscore the advancements made in compressor technology to meet the demanding requirements of modern energy infrastructure.
To achieve this breakthrough， the Tarim Oilfield Company collaborated with Shenyang Blower Works Group Co.， Ltd. to form a dedicated research and development team. This team tackled core technical challenges， including high-pressure cylinder design， rotor dynamics and sealing technology for high-pressure applications， and efficient flow path modeling. Their joint research ultimately led to the formation of complete set of technology and key core components with entirely independent intellectual property rights. This collaborative approach， combining industry expertise with specific operational needs， has been instrumental in driving innovation.
Following rigorous testing， this pioneering 40 MPa pressure-class centrifugal compressor unit for gas storage facilities has demonstrated that its primary mechanical operation and performance test indicators have reached international advanced levels， filling a crucial void in domestic capabilities. This validation is a testament to the quality and reliability of the domestically engineered equipment， positioning it competitively on the global stage.
To facilitate the domestic production of high-pressure centrifugal compressors， the R&D team developed several key innovative technologies. The novel drive structure， a first for domestic gas storage facility units， utilizes a compact “variable frequency motor + gearbox + coaxial high and low-pressure cylinders” driving scheme. This design significantly reduces the footprint and lowers investment costs， showcasing an emphasis on both technical efficiency and economic viability.
Innovative impeller manufacturing employed electro-discharge machining technology for narrow three-dimensional impellers， successfully developing model-level impellers suitable for high-pressure， high-efficiency， and low-flow operating conditions. Concurrently， the team optimized the rotor structure of the high-pressure cylinder. Through precise calculations of rotor thrust under high-pressure conditions and quantification of its dynamic characteristics， they solved critical sealing challenges. The implementation of a combined “honeycomb structure + anti-swirl sealing” technology effectively addresses sealing deformation and gas-induced vibration issues under high differential pressure conditions. These advancements in material science and engineering design are critical for ensuring the longevity and performance of the equipment in demanding operational environments.
