Fairbanks to supply crude oil pumps to South American Ayachucho-Covenas pipeline

Fairbanks Morse Engine, a subsidiary of EnPro Industries, has secured an order from Ecopetrol to supply five two-stroke opposed-piston dual-fuel engine-driven crude oil pump sets and auxiliary equipment for the Ayachucho-Covenas pipeline in Colombia.

The engine-driven pump sets will increase the capacity of the pipeline, which transports crude oil from the Colombian interior to the port of Covenas, located on Colombia’s north coast.

Ecopetrol plans to install two 12-cylinder engines at the pipeline’s 4,410 horsepower El Retiro pumping station. Three nine-cylinder 3,308 horsepower units will be installed at the El Banco pumping station.

Fairbanks Morse Engine commercial power systems director Mark Holley said: "Dual-fuel technology combines the advantages of a natural gas engine’s lower fuel costs and reduced emissions levels with a diesel engine’s excellent transient load acceptance and reliability in a dependable, fuel-flexible engine drive."

Fairbanks Morse units range between 2,000 and 4,500 horsepower and are designed to operate on 99% natural or associated field gas.

The dual-fuel engine starts on diesel fuel then switches to operate on natural gas, but will shift back to diesel fuel if the natural gas supply is interrupted.

The two-stroke and opposed-piston design includes fewer moving parts compared to four-stroke engines, which reduces maintenance costs.

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Image: Fairbanks Morse Engine will supply two-stroke, opposed-piston (OP), dual-fuel, engine-driven crude oil pump sets to the Ayachucho-Covenas pipeline. Photo: courtesy of Wilfra.