TargetingTurbomachinery

New Compressor Linefrom GE

On-Site NitrogenGeneration

August-September 2007

Dedicated to Gas Compression Products and Applications

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Dearing Compressor and Pump Co.takes pride in being the largest com-pressor packager in the Appalachianmarket. “That’s where we want to besuccessful,” said Richard (Rick) H.Dearing, Jr., president. “We like todeal with customers on a personallevel, and it’s been an important fac-tor in our success. We’ve grown a lotin the past year.”

A 10,000 sq.ft. (929 m2) high-bayexpansion, completed in August 2006,helped provide the capacity neededfor the Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.A.,packager to fabricate the larger com-pressor units now very much in de-mand in the Appalachian Basin.

The company was formed in 1945by Albin P. Dearing III, who sold andserviced Gardner Denver industrial aircompressors, and it is the second old-est remaining distributor for GardnerDenver in the U.S.A. The company’sintroduction to the oil and gas busi-ness came in 1960 by working onGardner Denver oil rig compressors.This later led to an expansion into thenatural gas compressor market withinOhio. Today, Dearing’s air and gas

compressors serve automotive, alu-minum, plastic, chemical, food, high-tech, lumber, rubber, steel and min-ing, as well as oil and gas industries.

Rick Dearing, grandson of thefounder, joined the company in 1985after gaining petroleum engineeringand MBA degrees. Rebecca DearingWall, a sister and co-owner with Rick,joined the company in 1981 and cur-rently serves as executive vice presi-dent and chief financial officer. “Thecompany has grown steadily since wepurchased it in 1996, with sales rev-

enue doubling in the last three yearsalone,” said Wall. “Dearing is estab-lished as a leader in the engineering,packaging and installation of qualitycompression equipment,” she added.

“The air and gas compressor busi-nesses have historically balanced eachother through peaks and valleys in theenergy and industrial markets. But inthe last few years, both have done wellat the same time for the first time ever,”explained Dearing. “The company hasbeen able to change and adapt tochanging markets and new niche op-portunities, allowing us to grow con-servatively, but steadily,” he said.

“In 1996, 100 to 300 hp (75 to 224kW) packages were common forDearing, and 500 hp (373 kW) was abig unit for us,” he said. “But our cus-tomers demanded that we be able todo it all or we wouldn’t get any oftheir business, so we have kept ex-panding to larger and larger units.”

Until the recent expansion,Dearing’s 26,000 sq.ft. (2416 m2) facil-ity, with only two 5 ton (4.5 metricton) cranes having 12 ft. (3.7 m) hookheight, made it challenging to packagelarge units. The new 10,000 sq.ft. (929m2) bay has two 30 ton (27 metric ton)cranes having 25 ft. (7.6 m) hookheight. “This enables us to lift 60 tons(54 metric tons) in a single lift withouthiring portable cranes, and that re-duces our loading time to 1 hour in-stead of 4 to 6 hours. We can nowload a unit and set the next unit onthe same day, which helps us progresstoward our goal of building a unit in 1to 2 weeks’ time,” said Dearing.

Dearing Compressor and Pump Co.engineers, packages and installs com-pression equipment for gas gathering,process gas and gas transmission. “Wehave a significant freight cost advan-tage for Appalachian customers, beingcloser to the market and also close toAriel’s factory,” said Dearing. “Our pri-mary market covers Western Pen-nsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, WesternNew York, Virginia, Kentucky, Ten-nessee and now Michigan as well.”

Dearing gas compressor packages

COMPRESSOR PACKAGES FOR THE APPALACHIAN BASIN

Dearing Compressor and Pump Co. Expands to Serve Needs of Regional Market

By Norm Shade

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2007 COMPRESSORTechTwo

n This Caterpillar G3406NA driven Gardner Denver SSQG rotary screw compressor is beingfabricated in Dearing Compressor and Pump Co.’s shop in Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.A. Destinedfor a wellhead compression application in Western Pennsylvania, it is rated at 215 hp (160 kW)at 1800 rpm.

n A 400 hp (298kW), 1800 GE elec-tric motor-drivenGardner DenverSSYG rotary screwcompressor pro-gresses towardcompletion prior toheading for coalbedmethane service inVirginia, U.S.A.

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utilize Ariel reciprocating compressorsor either Ariel or Gardner Denver ro-tary screw compressors. Most pack-ages use Caterpillar gas engine dri-vers, but Waukesha, Arrow, Cumminsor GM Vortec engines are also used.Dearing has also been building elec-tric motor-driven gas compressorpackages since 1997, using Toshiba,Baldor, Reliance or GE motors, somewith variable frequency drives. Mostpackages utilize R&R Engineering orACE coolers, Miratech exhaust cata-lysts and Maxim silencers.

The company is flexible enough topackage units ranging from 5 to 3000hp (4 to 2237 kW) with up to Ariel JGCand JGD compressor frame sizes.Dearing completed their first CaterpillarG3608 package and also built two3000 hp (2237 kW) electric motor-driven units in early 2007. “The Ap-palachian market has a need for largerelectric-driven packages for gas pro-duction, gathering and boosting,” saidDearing. “This is fed by low-cost elec-tricity from coal plants, run times that

are superior to engine drives, fewerair permitting issues and shorter deliv-ery times for motors than gas engines.Most of the units have three or fourstages, taking gas from about 5 psig(0.3 bar) and boosting it to 1000 to1200 psig (69 to 83 bar).”

“Our engineering department willmatch customer needs with the bestequipment for the application usingthe most state-of-the-art componentsavailable,” said Dearing. “Our years ofexperience in design and service en-sure an efficient system totally suitedto the customer’s specifications. Weprovide a superior skid design with amechanically friendly layout with stan-dard or custom controls,” he added.

Designs are engineered in AutoCADInventor 3-D. Beta Machinery Analysisprovides the torsional, acoustic pulsa-tion and structural analyses. Skids areeither fabricated in-house or subcon-tracted, depending on business vol-ume. However, Dearing indicated thatall sub bases are built in-house be-cause of their importance to the de-

sign integrity of the package. ASMEvessels are currently being fabricatedby Northern Design Services inKalkaska, Michigan, U.S.A., however,Dearing’s next expansion planned for2008 will include an ASME vessel shopfor in-house production of scrubbers,pulsation bottles and filters. Dearingpersonnel perform all assembly, elec-trical, controls and ANSI B31.8 orB31.3 pipe welding for the packages.

Over its long history, Dearing hassurvived many industry downturns byadapting to serve diverse niche marketopportunities. “We’ve always had anability to innovate and adapt by identi-fying a niche and going after it,” ex-plained Dearing. For example, theyonce had an active business buildinggas engine-powered air compressorsduring the electricity crisis a few yearsago, selling more than 100 units onboth coasts, Texas and eastern Canada.They still build a few, although thatmarket has softened in recent years.So, Dearing redirected their focus tothe natural gas market, which has

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2007 COMPRESSORTechTwo

n (Left) A 700 hp (522 kW), 900 rpm single-stage compressor package is shown in Dearing Compressor and Pump Co.’s new high-bay fabricationaddition. The package includes an Ariel JGH/2 driven by a Reliance electric motor and a separate R&R Engineering cooler. It will be used for a gasprocessing plant in Virginia for nitrogen removal. (Right) Two Dearing Compressor & Pump Co. three-stage gas gathering and boosting compres-sor packages are shown being installed at a customer site near Clarksburg, West Virginia, U.S.A. Each package includes a Caterpillar G3516 gasengine driving an Ariel JGE/4 compressor at a rated speed of 1400 rpm.

n (Left) This Dearing Compressor and Pump Co. two-stage package includes a Caterpillar G3608 gas engine driving an Ariel JGC/4 compressor ata rated speed of 1000 rpm. (Right) Two three-stage Dearing 2250 hp (1678 kW), 900 rpm synchronous motor-driven Ariel JGC/4 compressors areshown being readied for commissioning at an Appalachian Basin customer site.

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REPRINTED FROM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2007 COMPRESSORTechTwoCopyright Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications

Printed in U.S.A.

the design of the entire system or with the addition of a sin-gle component to the system.

Dearing also represents the complete family of GardnerDenver and OPI high-pressure plunger pumps, which areused in the petroleum industry and in major industrial mar-kets. The pumps range in frame size from 25 to 200 hp (19to 149 kW), with pressures from 300 to 20,000 psig (21 to1379 bar).

Additional family members, including Robin Wall andAlbin Dearing, handle distribution, industrial sales and envi-ronmental products for the company. In addition to com-pressors and pumps, Dearing products for those sectors in-clude trailer-mounted systems sold to environmentalconsultants for environmental ground water remediation.Partnering with Guild Associates, they sell processingequipment for CO2 and N2 extraction.

Dearing Compressor and Pump Co. can provide installa-tion, start-up and commissioning services with factory-trained technicians, most having 15 to 20 years of experi-ence. Parts are available for Gardner Denver, Ariel, FWMurphy, ASCO, Kimray, Altronic controls and ignition, andother products required to support compressor packages.

“Even though we’ve expanded, we’re still a relativelysmall, fast-acting, family-owned operation where service isthe key to the sale. Three of four children from the thirdgeneration are involved in the business, and we’re proud tobe training the fourth generation,” said Dearing. “We re-main flexible enough to handle small, big and anything inbetween, and we will continue to satisfy our base cus-tomers in the Appalachian basin.” n

more than filled their capacity. They also serve the landfilland digester gas compression markets, providing gas tur-bine fuel gas compression systems with built-in chillers toremove water. Gardner Denver screw compressors andblowers and Dekker liquid ring compressors are also pack-aged for the coalbed methane and vapor recovery markets.

More examples of Dearing niche compression applicationsabound. They package diesel engine-driven Gardner Denverprimary and Ariel booster compressors for air drilling serv-ices. A five-stage Ariel JG/4 air compressor, powered by a150 hp (112 kW), 1200 rpm Toshiba electric motor withVFD, was recently packaged to boost atmospheric air to900 psig (62.05 bar) for a GM stamping plant process. Theyrepackage, repower and recylinder existing packages.Dearing also indicated that they were bidding a project to re-place Caterpillar G3608 engines with 2500 hp (1864 kW)electric motors to reduce an existing site’s emissions and op-erating costs, a developing new market; and they werebuilding their first Ariel nonlube unit for an LNG facility.

The company’s Gardner Denver air compression systemand industrial pump business is based in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S.A. Air compressors and drying systems are available forsale or rental; and rotary screw compressors are repaired,rebuilt and reconditioned for both air and gas services. Afull line of air compressors, rotary screws from 5 to 500 hp(4 to 373 kW), reciprocating from 3 to 1500 hp (2 to 1119kW), and centrifugal from 300 to 1500 hp (224 to 1119 kW),is offered, as well as ancillary equipment such as air dryers,filters, drains, air receivers, oil-water condensate separatorsystems and cooling water systems. Dearing can assist with

n (Above) A Dearing three-stage 1250 hp (932 kW) electric motor-dri-ven Ariel JGK/4 compressor package shown in an Appalachian Basingas gathering application. (Below) Dearing Compressor & Pump Co.package designs are engineered using AutoCAD Inventor 3-D model-ing software. Shown here is a two-stage Caterpillar G3516 engine withan Ariel JGE/4 compressor.

n This recently completed 125 hp (93 kW) motor-driven two-stagenonlube Ariel JGJ/2 compressor is ready for shipment from DearingCompressor and Pump Co.’s Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.A., plant for serv-ice in an LNG gas boil-off application.

n This Dearing package is ready for service in a New Jersey, U.S.A.,wastewater treatment plant, compressing digester gas for use as gasturbine fuel. In addition to an electric motor-driven rotary screw com-pressor, the system includes a built-in chiller to remove water.

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