Rolls-Royce engines will power an extension to one of India’s major gas pipelines in a deal with Gas Authority India Limited (GAIL) valued at more than $130 million.

Six RB211-GT61 gas turbine compression packages will be supplied to increase the flow of gas to 56 million cubic meters per day as part of an integrated national gas grid GAIL is creating to support economic growth across India.

Three gas compression sets will be installed at each of the Vijaipur and Jhabua, with each one maintaining pipeline hydraulics by compensating for the loss of gas pressure that occurs along a pipeline.

Tom Curley, president of the Rolls-Royce energy business, said: “India is an important and growing market for Rolls-Royce and we are very pleased to strengthen our long-standing relationship with GAIL. Rolls-Royce has unparalleled experience, providing power for major oil and gas pipelines in 24 countries around the world, and this new contract is further demonstration of the benefits our technology is delivering.”

Rolls-Royce now has more than 100 gas turbine and compressor installations in India and this new contract increases the number of RB211 compression units operating on the GAIL network to 14. The group also provides power for the Oil and Natural Gas Commission of India in the Bombay High gas field with 36 gas turbine and compressor units.

Rolls-Royce will manufacture the industrial RB211s at its Montreal, Canada facility and the centrifugal gas compressors will be built at its Mount Vernon, Ohio factory in the US.

Assembly of the complete gas turbine packages will also take place at Mount Vernon. Delivery of all six units is scheduled for the first quarter of 2010.