The turbomachinery component of interest in this paper, the pocket damper seal, has the dual purpose of limiting leakage and providing an additional source of damping at the seal location. The rotordynamic coefficients of these seals (primarily the direct stiffness and damping) are highly dependent on the leakage rates through the seals and the pressures in the seals’ cavities. This paper presents both numerical predictions and experimentally obtained results for the leakage and the cavity pressures of pocket damper seals operating at high pressures. The seals were tested with air, at pressures up to 1000 Psi (6.92 MPa), as the working fluid. Earlier flow-prediction models were modified and used to obtain theoretical reference values for both mass flow-rates and pressures. Leakage and static pressure measurements on straight-through and diverging-clearance configurations of eight-bladed and twelve-bladed seals were used for code validation and for calculation of seal discharge coefficients. Higher than expected leakage rates were measured in the case of the twelve-bladed seal, while the leakage rates for the eight-bladed seals were predicted with reasonable accuracy. Differences in the axial pitch lengths of the cavities and the blade profiles of the seals are used to explain the discrepancy in the case of the twelve-bladed seal. The analysis code used also predicted the static cavity pressures reasonably well. Tests conducted on a six-bladed pocket damper seal to further investigate the effect of blade profile supported the results of the eight-bladed and twelve-bladed seal tests and matched theoretical predictions with satisfactory accuracy.

This paper presents measured frequency dependent stiffness and damping coefficients for 12 and 8 bladed pocket damper seals (PDS) subdivided into 4 different seal configurations. Rotating experimental test are presented for inlet pressures at 69 bar (1,000 psi), a frequency excitation range of 20–300 Hz, and rotor speeds up to 20,200 rpm. The testing method used to determine direct and cross-coupled force coefficients was the mechanical impedance method, which required the measurement of external shaker forces, system accelerations, and motion in two orthogonal directions. In addition to the impedance measurements, dynamic pressure responses were measured for individual seal cavities of the 8 bladed PDS. Results of the frequency dependent force coefficients for the 4 PDS designs are compared. The conclusions of the test show that the 8 bladed PDS possessed significantly more positive direct damping and negative direct stiffness than the 12 bladed seal. The results from the dynamic pressure response tests show that the diverging clearance design strongly influences the dynamic pressure phase and force density of the seal cavities. The tests also revealed the measurement of same-sign cross-coupled (cross-axis) stiffness coefficients for all seals, which indicate that the seals do not produce a de-stabilizing influence on rotor-bearing systems.

This paper presents measured frequency dependent stiffness and damping coefficients for 12-bladed and 8-bladed pocket damper seals (PDS) subdivided into four different seal configurations. Rotating experimental tests are presented for inlet pressures at 69 bar (1000 psi), a frequency excitation range of 20–300 Hz, and rotor speeds up to 20,200 rpm. The testing method used to determine direct and cross-coupled force coefficients was the mechanical impedance method, which required the measurement of external shaker forces, system accelerations, and motion in two orthogonal directions. In addition to the impedance measurements, dynamic pressure responses were measured for individual seal cavities of the eight-bladed PDS. Results of the frequency dependent force coefficients for the four PDS designs are compared. The conclusions of the tests show that the eight-bladed PDS possessed significantly more positive direct damping and negative direct stiffness than the 12-bladed seal. The results from the dynamic pressure response tests show that the diverging clearance design strongly influences the dynamic pressure phase and force density of the seal cavities. The tests also revealed the measurement of same-sign cross-coupled (cross-axis) stiffness coefficients for all seals, which indicate that the seals do not produce a destabilizing influence on rotor-bearing systems.

The effects of two seal design parameters, namely blade (tooth) thickness and blade profile, on labyrinth seal leakage, as well as the effect of operating a seal in an off-center position, were examined through a series of non-rotating tests. Two reconfigurable seal designs were used, which enabled testing of two- four-, and six-bladed see-through labyrinth seals with different geometries using the same sets of seal blades. Leakage and cavity pressure measurements were made on each of twenty-three seal configurations with a four inch (101.6 mm) diameter journal. Tests were carried out with air as the working fluid at supply pressures of up to 100 psi-a (6.89 bar-a). Experimental results showed that doubling the thickness of the labyrinth blades significantly influenced leakage, reducing the flow-rate through the seals by up to 20%. Tests to determine the effect of blade-tip profile produced more equivocal results, with the results of experiments using each of the two test seal designs contradicting each other. Tests on one set of hardware indicated that beveling blades on the downstream side was most effective in limiting leakage whereas tests on newer hardware with tighter clearances indicated that seals with flat-tipped blades were superior. The test results illustrated that both blade profile and blade thickness could be manipulated so as to reduce seal leakage. However, an examination of the effects of both factors together indicated that the influence of one of these parameters can, to some extent, negate the influence of the other (especially in cases with tighter clearances). Lastly, for all configurations tested, results showed that leakage through a seal increases with increased eccentricity and that this phenomenon was considerably more pronounced at lower supply pressures.

Histrorically, Upper Safa is considered to be the source rock of the gas and condensate accumulated in Lower Safa stratum in Obaiyed Field. Both of Upper and Lower Safa units are parts of Khatatba formation "Jurassic age, Western Desert coulumn, Egypt". The integration of all petrophysical and geochemical data indicated that, there is a rich organic Carbon embedded in the formation with a high britteleness ratio. As a result of the opportunity identification, there is an operational scope being studied now to proceed with a haydrulic fracturing stimulation targeting the sweet intervals "Intervals of high TOC and high Britteleness ratio" aiming to maximize the whole gas and condensate production of the field. This paper is summarizing the opportunity identification process and results using available petrophysical and geochemical data.Six wells had been used in this study where there is a complete set of well and continuous petrophysical data exist in all of them supported by geochemical analysis reports. Specific interpretation techniques were utilized to identify the opportunity from the logs. The property of Total Organic Carbon was estimated from logs using standered DeltaLogR Passey Technique and then verified using measured data. The rock briteleness property was estimated from avilable acoustic sonic logs "Compressional and Shear slowness". The type of Kerogen and level of Maturity were recognized from geochemical sources. The data integration provided a well identification of the shale gas opportunity.As a part of complete assessment study of unconventional resources, a dedicated subsurface team was formed in order to evaluate the connectivity of Upper Safa, estimate the in place volumes and define the development options. The team also proposed on short term scale performing a vertical hydraulic fracturing in one of the sweet wells in order to prove the evaluation concept and increase total field production.The success of this project is measured by three aspects: first, proving the presence of commercial shale gas plays in Upper Safa unit, second, maximizing the gas and condensate production from the field and finally, on the long term scale, unlocking commercial unconventional gas resource for future generations in Western Desert, Egypt.