(EnergyAsia, April 28 2011, Thursday) — Rolls-Royce, the UK-based global power systems company, said it recently secured a contract to supply gas compression equipment to PetroChina, the country’s largest oil and gas producer, for its West-East gas pipeline project.

Rolls Royce said it will supply and install its RB211 gas turbine compressor packages at the West-East pipeline, and associated feed and branch lines before year-end. The order includes six RB211 gas turbine compressor packages to be installed at the WEPP Line 2 rated as one of China’s most important and expensive energy project.

The gas turbine units will be installed at two new compressor stations along the 2,400-km Eastern section of the line. They will join six RB211 units currently being installed along the 2,450 km Western section and 19 RB211 compressor sets already in service on WEPP Line 1.

The 8,859-km WEPP Line 2 consists of one 4,859-km trunk line, and eight sub-lines. It will transport 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year from reserves in Central Asia, across 15 provinces to major regions such as Zhejiang, Shanghai, Guangdong and Hong Kong. The equipment is scheduled for delivery by the fourth quarter of 2011.

This country-wide distribution network will help boost China’s clean energy consumption to offset an expected 11 million tonnes of coal usage every year, thereby reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Tony Ruegger, Rolls-Royce’s executive vice-president for oil and gas, said: “Once again, PetroChina has put their trust in Rolls-Royce technology for this vital gas pipeline.

“The nineteen RB211 packages currently operating in China have been in service for nearly half-a-million hours, with the longest running engine achieving over 34,000 hours. Using Rolls-Royce aero engine technology, these gas turbine packages continue to provide very high levels of performance and reliability.”