Petrochemical and Gas Plant Noise

Acoustic design and noise control is a vital part of the overall design process for a petrochemical, LNG or gas storage plant, due to the large number of noise generating equipment items and processes typically involved.

Whether the design is for a new plant, an expansion or a debottlenecking project on an existing refinery, noise should be considered as part of the front-end engineering (FEED) study so that allowances for the space, weight and cost of noise control can be made early on.

Pumps, compressors, turbines, fired heaters, WHRUs, process piping and valves are all potentially significant noise and vibration sources and should be included in an acoustic design study following standard methodology and procedures, such as those described in ISO 15664:2001 Acoustics – Noise control design procedures for open plant.

Occupational noise and environmental noise may both be important design considerations, and computer based acoustic modelling of the plant to recognised standards (e.g. ISO 9613-1:1993 Acoustics – Attenuation of sound during propagation outdoors – Part 1: Calculation of the absorption of sound by the atmosphere and ISO 9613-2:1996 Acoustics – Attenuation of sound during propagation outdoors – Part 2: General method of calculation) provides an on-going and updatable record of predicted noise levels as the project progresses from FEED through engineering design, FAT testing, and commissioning.

Spectrum has worked on some of the largest engineering projects in the world including the world’s largest greenfield oil refinery Reliance Jamnagar, India, where we acted as noise consultant to Bechtel in a project to increase capacity from 27 to 40 MTPA. Also the new 60 billion US$ Kashagan Oilfield development in Kazakhstan.

Other projects include:

  • ADNOC OGD1 and 2 gas treatment complexes, Abu Dhabi for Technip-Bechtel JV
  • Burullus gas plant, Egypt for Bechtel
  • Onshore drilling rig noise studies in UK, Denmark, Holland and Norway
  • Gas storage facilities in UK at Aldbrough, Holford, Satlfleetby and Hole House for SSE, E.ON, Wingas and Edf Energy
  • Process valves noise reduction study, for Equate Petrochemicals, Kuwait
  • Gas compressor stations at Wormington, Churchover and Felindre, UK for National Grid
  • Fired Heater and WHRU noise studies for Boustead International Heaters