Conventional
Original pressure control
WEX²® technology
Pressure and waste heat.
Put to work.
Wellstream Expansion & Waste Energy Extraction. Convert gas-pressure energy and available waste heat into useful electricity through controlled gas expansion.
How it works
A familiar process.
A different energy outcome.
WEX²® replaces or complements a pressure-reduction function with an integrated expander-generator system.
With WEX²®
Pressure reduction with power recovery
Integrated system
Engineered as a complete system.
WEX²® combines gas separation, heating, expansion and power generation with the controls and electrical connections needed for your facility.
01 / Process moduleGas preparation and process interfaces.
02 / Turboexpander-generatorPressure energy converted to electrical power.
03 / Power & controlElectrical distribution and system integration.
Beyond the pressure drop
Power, heat and cooling.
Assessed together.
Pressure energy recovery
The turboexpander recovers over 80% of the available gas expansion energy as shaft power to drive the generator.
Waste heat integration
Suitable available heat can be used upstream of the expander to increase output and manage downstream temperature.
Process cooling
Expansion reduces gas temperature. Where the process can use that cooling, it may support gas conditioning or reduce other cooling duties. Hydrate limits and phase behaviour govern the design.
Indicative performance
Power recovery by
pressure ratio and flow.
The presentation maps show turboexpander shaft power across a range of gas flows and pressure ratios.
Gas mixture86 mol% C1
Molecular weight19.3 kg/kmol
Screening basisNo external heat input
Reading the maps. Pressure ratio is inlet pressure divided by outlet pressure, using absolute pressures. Each contour identifies a shaft-power level. The two maps retain their respective presentation data and are separate screening references.
Project-specific verification. Results are indicative. Achievable shaft and electrical power require case-specific simulation and turboexpander-vendor confirmation using the applicable gas composition and process conditions. Net electrical output also accounts for generator, conversion and auxiliary losses.
Technical questions
What matters in the integration?
Where does the recovered energy come from?
In upstream production, the energy originates in reservoir pressure. In storage and other compressed-gas applications, the system recovers a significant part of the pressure energy that would otherwise be lost during pressure reduction.
Does the system require heat?
That depends on the gas, pressure ratio and required outlet conditions. Some cases can operate without external heat input. Others need preheating to manage temperatures and hydrate risk. Available waste heat will increase output.
Can WEX²® be integrated into an existing facility?
Yes. Integration is assessed around available space, weight, tie-in locations, isolation and electrical interfaces. The existing pressure-control path may form part of a bypass arrangement, depending on the design and control philosophy.
How are liquids and solids handled?
Feed preparation is a key part of the WEX²® design. Separation, solids management and gas conditioning must meet the selected equipment’s operating limits. The assessment uses the applicable gas composition and expected liquid and solids loading.
Technical publication
Wellstream Expansion & Waste Energy Extraction.
SPE-229151-MSThe engineering behind WEX²®
Explore the technical basis.
A New Method for Conserving Energy in Gas Production Plants by Wellstream Expansion and Waste Energy Extraction.
The WEX²® technical paper is a starting point for a deeper discussion of the technology and its application to gas production.
How much power is in
your pressure reduction?
Share your operating conditions. We can help establish the opportunity and the right next step.