This question comes up pretty often and there is no clear-cut answer. Some companies have minimum distances to prevent a fire spreading from one machine to another, but fire analysis that I've done makes this look like wishful thinking.
My preference is to be able to get a crane-truck on every side of each machine (but I can live with a pipe rack on the end away from the cooler), and to be able to get a crane within a reasonable distance of the compressors. Practically, 12-16 ft skid-edge to skid-edge seems to work well if you designate a clear area for a picker (usually 20-25 ft on the cooler-end works).
One big problem is people that want to put pipe racks on both ends of the machine so you can't get a maintenance truck near enough to jump a damn battery. As long as you've considered both access and air-flow requirements you should be fine.
The absolute minimum is enough distance to pull pistons or other work. I agree with Zdas, being able to get a truck between that has a small crane is good idea. In an engine room with an overhead cran, then just enough distance to pull parts is fine.
To limit fire spreading, you may think about putting a few units close together, then have a 50 foot gap to the next series of units.
Thanks to both, Evidently there's no standard to this kind of trouble, but thanks for the help. In this work, where I need it, I'm finish making a Risk Based Inspecction of this place (Compression station metane gas). Do you have any experience with this kind of stations?
i own a service company to repair/install/operate compressor stations for both sweet and sour gas, let me know if you need anything, i seen a lot of good and bad over the years
I'll give you a published standard on spacing, but I only use it as a general guideline. The GPSA data book put back in a spacing guideline for equipment. It is hidden under the Utilities section chapter 18. It is a reprint from GE Asset Protection Services. It is similar to the old IAI (?) tables that a lot of old timers keep locked up.
