OREANDA-NEWS. GE (NYSE: GE) will showcase its growing technology portfolio to meet the challenges of Russia's oil and gas sector during the 12th biennial Moscow International Oil & Gas Exhibition (MIOGE), the largest oil and gas trade event in Russia and Central Asia. A highlight of GE's participation will be the opening of a GE Oil & Gas Customer Application Center in Moscow.

“Many of the world's leading oil and gas companies attend this important show, which provides an excellent forum for us to display our latest technologies, experience in the region and commitment to the development of Russia's oil and gas sector,” said Alessio Mariani, regional leader for Russia and CIS of GE Oil & Gas. “The establishment of the new customer application center is an investment in the future of Russia that will bring us closer to our customers in this vital region.” For details on the new center, please click here.

GE Oil & Gas is a leading technology supplier for Russia's oil and gas sector. Today more than 400 gas turbines, 65 steam turbines, 700 compressors and more than 600 units of other equipment including air coolers, condensers, gas separators and pumps produced by GE Oil & Gas and GE Power & Water have been installed in Russia and in the CIS region.

GE Oil & Gas is featuring several innovative products at MIOGE, including its integrated compressor line (ICL), a system particularly indicated for dry clean gas applications and combining three proven technologies: centrifugal compression, active magnetic bearings and high-speed electric motors. Since it is driven by electricity rather than gas, ICL technology saves energy and avoids associated carbon dioxide emissions. A new single-stage version of the ICL also has been developed and was introduced at the beginning of the year. The single-stage ICL, designed for low-pressure ratio applications such as pipeline compression, has a simplified design with only two magnetic bearings and no split parts and offers full access to critical components. With its very simple and robust architecture, the product costs about the same as a conventional BCL/PCL compressor, but has lower operating costs.

GE's drilling business is highlighting its Modular Downhole Tractor (MDT), which is used to transport passenger wireline tools into wells where standard wireline deployment is not possible or practical. It is modular, enabling a number of sections-actuator and drive arms/wheels-to be connected together below the MDT electronics section to provide greater forces to push the tools along the well.

GE is participating at MIOGE also with its Power Conversion business, which serves the oil and gas industry with its complete electrical portfolio in LNG, subsea, transportation and storage. GE's Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to help drive the electrification of the world's energy infrastructure by designing and delivering advanced motor, drive and control technologies to deliver a complete electrification offering for the oil and gas sector. Drawing on in-depth knowledge of customer processes and challenges, GE can help increase reliability, safety and efficiency across upstream to downstream applications.

GE also is showcasing the capabilities of its world-class testing facility in Massa, Italy. In 2012, GE invested about USD 32 million in a new test bed in that facility adding a GE Power Conversion 61-megawatt Variable-Speed Drive System that will supply the required electric power in preparation for the oncoming increase in LNG activity. The new bed is designed for thermodynamic and mechanical running tests on large centrifugal compressors for LNG and ethylene applications. It is helping customers avoid the typically more expensive and longer cycle string test configurations used elsewhere.

Last week, on June 21, GE announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with Rosneft to establish a joint venture to roll out technology innovation projects aimed at driving the growth of the oil and gas sector in the Russian Federation and abroad and focused on the development of local expertise. On the same day, the sale to Rosneft of two 6FA low-emission gas turbines for the Vankor field also was announced.

In addition to the Rosneft deal, GE also announced last week that it had signed a memorandum on strategic cooperation with Gazprombank. The memorandum is aimed at developing the Russian oil and gas sector.