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ZEI, Inc. is a multidisciplinary company providing complete engineering, design and consulting services to natural gas transmission, distribution and combination companies in the following areas: Pipelines
Shifting sources of supply and increased requirements for storage necessitate installing new pipelines and upgrading existing pipelines to ensure dependable, safe and economical transportation of natural gas. ZEI can:
ZEI has designed a number of compressor stations in the U.S. and Europe, including stations for underground storage service, since its formation as Zinder Engineering, Inc., in 1973. Prior to that time, the principals of ZEI formed the nucleus of the Natural Gas Engineering Group at Commonwealth Associates, Inc., which was headed by James M. Iocca, P.E., Chairman and President of ZEI. While at Commonwealth, key members of ZEI's staff, under the direction of Mr. Iocca, designed the Ommen Compressor Station in The Netherlands, which is still the largest station in the world. This same group designed many of the initial compressor stations which now form the gas transmission grid in Western Europe and the British Isles as well as the first automated remotely controlled compressor station in the United States -- Consumers Energy's White Pigeon Compressor Station in Michigan -- and the first modern compressor station in Great Britain -- the Alrews Compressor Station in England. Of the storage compressor stations designed by ZEI, Equitable Resources' Copley Run Compressor Station, located in West Virginia, was the most complex because of the intricate control system to facilitate delivery of stored gas to and from several gas transmission pipelines at different pressures. A paper describing the control system design was presented at an American Gas Association Gas Transmission Conference and later published in the Oil and Gas Journal. ZEI's most recent storage project was the design of the Pataya Storage Compressor Station for Southwest Gas Corporation, located in Arizona. The design was complicated by the need to make provisions in the initial design for a substantial future addition to the salt cavern storage capacity. In addition to implementing designs and preparing drawings and specifications for construction, ZEI has provided procurement services, which included preparation of technical specifications for equipment and material, soliciting bids from manufacturers, evaluating bids and making recommendations for award, making quality assurance inspections in shops and expediting. ZEI's construction management services have included preparing the bid package, soliciting bids for construction, evaluating and awarding, and preparing contract documents. In addition, ZEI has conducted pre-bid and pre-award meetings in coordination with its clients. Following award, ZEI has provided construction management services by assigning experienced site representatives who monitored the contractor's work on a daily basis, with support from the home office as required. ZEI provides compressor Station design services for transmission and storage of natural gas, including: SELECTION OF PRIME MOVERS:
DESIGN OF THROUGHPUT PIPING SYSTEMS:
DESIGN OF AUXILIARY SYSTEMS:
DESIGN OF ON-SITE POWER GENERATION, BUILDINGS AND FOUNDATIONS.
ZEI provides services to gas distribution companies covering the planning and design of distribution systems, including:
Metering and Regulating Stations
ZEI has designed many metering and regulating stations, and line valve control installations. These are normally unattended, most are remotely monitored and many are remotely controlled. Special attention is given to equipment selection, layout and configuration to preclude noise generation, freeze-off and associated foundation heaving problems.
ZEI's plant site development services encompass site arrangement, access roads, railroad spurs, drainage, purchased power supply, permitting and environmental considerations.
Remote Control and Automation Systems
ZEI provides complete design and consulting services relating to equipment automation and control of operating systems. These systems involve:
ZEI's services include:
Underground storage provides a means for the economical purchase of gas and better assures a supplemental gas supply to satisfy seasonal peak demands. ZEI can provide the above ground facility design services required to develop and operate underground storage facilities for storing natural gas in formerly producing fields, aquifers and salt caverns.
Acoustic Surveys and
Corrective Modifications Many existing plants require an acoustics investigation to ensure that OSHA regulations are being met. ZEI's engineers have the experience necessary to:
Vibration Analyses and
Corrective Modifications ZEI's engineers can analyze systems where detrimental vibration is occurring (usually piping equipment foundations and ductwork systems) and determine the necessary corrective modifications.
Natural gas from producing wellheads or from storage may contain contaminates, such as water, acid gases and solids, which require removal before the natural gas is delivered to market. Natural gas is also processed to remove certain constituents, such as heavy hydrocarbons and inert gases. ZEI offers services covering equipment selection, new facility design and facility modification.
Rising electrical energy costs, coupled with the increasing probability of fuel shortages in the future, makes it increasingly important for management to endeavor to save as much energy as possible by optimizing energy usage and recovery and utilizing waste heat. ZEI's highly qualified and experienced engineers can perform the services necessary to achieve optimum energy usage results. To achieve this, ZEI proceeds by assigning a team of engineers to undertake a detailed investigation of all plant energy using equipment and devices. The team's findings are then analyzed to determine what in-plant modifications (changing settings, increasing insulation, adding energy conservation equipment, etc.) are required. Where adding energy saving equipment or modifying the existing plant is a consideration, justification is based on an economic study that weighs capital and operating costs of modification against anticipated savings, considering anticipated changes in energy costs over time.
ZEI provides a qualified and experienced project team to survey facilities and record construction changes for updating existing engineering drawings or preparing new drawings to reflect the as-built condition of an existing facility or during construction of new facilities and/or additions as changes are made. These services include:
Incident Investigations
and Litigation Assistance ZEI performs quick response investigations of natural gas related incidents, prepares technical reports of its investigations and provides litigation assistance that includes preparation of interrogatories, participation in the taking of depositions, review and comment of expert witness reports, participation in the development of trial strategy and providing expert witness testimony.
ZEI provides services relating to compliance with DOT rules and regulations, including surveys to determine where modifications are required for compliance, system modification, assistance with setting up records and other required activities. Additional services include preparation of gas safety procedural manuals for complying with federal and state gas safety regulations.
ZEI prepares technical and economic feasibility studies and reports that are tailored to meet client objectives and goals. Such studies include:
ZEI can provide a qualified project team with the education and experience necessary to meet the client's requirements. ZEI would be pleased to meet with your company's representatives to discuss specific project needs and to submit a proposal for assistance that may be required. ZEI has successfully completed many and varied projects for the natural gas industry in the following states:
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Send mail to zei@flash.net with questions or comments about this web site.
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