Abstract: White viscous materials were found in the washing tank at the outlet of the feed gas compressor of Yakela Gas Collection and Treatment Station. The liquid level gauge and blowdown valve of the washing tank were blocked by the viscous materials, which induced the shutdown of compressor at high level of washing tank. The natural gas was forced to vent and the light hydrocarbon yield reduced, which resulted in the serious damage to the economic benefits. This paper analyzes the reasons for the shutdown of the feed gas compressor at Yakela station from such aspects as the operation of the feed gas compressor, the dissolution experiment of white viscous materials and the operation mode. It is preliminarily determined that the whiteviscous materials are long-chain polymer substance contained in feed gas or wax and heavy hydrocarbon in natural gas, which is produced after compression and heating by compressor. Grounded in this, the paper proposes the countermeasures for reducing or avoiding the shutdown of compressors.

Key words: washing tank, viscous materials, cause analysis, countermeasures