Potentially damaging activity or an energy resource?
Digital Trends: Natural Gas Leaking, Flaring and Venting
The Natural Gas Leaking, Flaring and Venting Reduction Development responds to Green House Gas Emission problem. First, it seeks to reduce emissions; secondly, applies the best management practices and processing optimizing the most effective use of the resource, rational exploitation controlled and commercially monetized, and finally raises the risk reduction of premiums (financial insurance) and taxes or penalties paid by governments because of pollution from emissions of greenhouse gases.
According to ENERDATA’s latest annual report, Global Energy Statistical Yearbook 2020, the United States of America ranks as the second country with approximately 4,920 MtCO2 (million metric tons of carbon dioxide), following China that generates the most massive volume of CO2 emissions with about 9,729 MtCO2.
Similarly, Methane (CH4) is a potent GHG (Greenhouse Gas); its life-cycling in the atmosphere is much shorter than Carbon Dioxide (CO2); however, it traps more radiation. The impact of CH4 on climate change is more than 20 times greater than CO2 over 100 years and about 86 times more significant for 20 years. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Greenhouse Gas Inventory estimates that in 2012 (GHG), CH4 contributed approximately 10% of gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on an equivalent basis of CO2 from sources.
Consequently, TLBS Corporation, as an engineering company and general contractor, has integrated the environmental and sustainable development trend since 2019, promoting the Green Planet Oil & Gas (GPOG) Project. This project consists of creating service lines for the Oil Industry that help prevent environmental accidents and preserve the ecological balance. As a result, TLBS created a Business Management System (BMS) designed through Essential-ITS. This system offers comprehensive and technological solutions, which allow for processing operational data extracted in the field for monitoring, development, and control through computational models managed from mobile devices through the App, and real-time monitoring (remote) to achieve global positioning. As a second convergent technological tool, the project uses a CMMS Computerized Maintenance Management System to control industrial plants’ gas leakage. These tools will integrate emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial robotics, and Crewless Air Vehicles CVA (drones). Also, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology come together in a single system that can produce inspection and sanitation in all facilities. The information captured from the operational activity will make it possible to evaluate installations, processes, and equipment related to the movement of the production of hydrocarbons and its consequences. Accordingly, plans for preventive and corrective actions are created in response to the environmental impact generated by these activities to reduce the greenhouse effect, pollution of water sources, and industrial facilities’ sanitation.
One of the GPOG Project objectives of TLBS Corporation is to determine the economic - technical feasibility for the adaptation of infrastructure and facilities that allow the use of natural gas according to the operational, environmental, and geographical conditions that apply. To implement a Business Management System (BMS) integrated into the processes that will allow better management, use, and use of natural gas as a resource is the primary source of green energy of national interest.
The burning of 1,643.83 Million Cubic Feet per day represents an economic loss for the US energy sector of US$ 2.9 Million per day, for a total of US$ 1,067 Million per year. According to the Science study that analyzed CH4 emissions, approximately 2.3% of the natural gas produced in the US escapes directly into the atmosphere due to equipment with leakage or intentional discharges (Allowable Discharges). The Methane Gas leaks for 2019 are 2,564.73 Million Cubic Feet per Day, representing about US$ 4.5 million lost in Methane Gas daily.
Gas Flaring associated with oil production is often permitted in the initial phase of well exploitation; usable gas volumes can be accounted for which the gas infrastructure (collection lines, processing plants, and compressors); the construction of operational facilities should be optimized or planned if they do not exist. Suppose we collect the rich gas and process it to extract the Natural Gas Liquids (based on gas richness - heavier hydrocarbons - GPM 1-4 gallons of liquid per 1000 cubic feet of natural gas), fractionate it, and transport it for use in the electrical, industrial, domestic, petrochemical and oil sector, we will contribute to minimizing the impacts on the environment, resulting from the burning and venting of gas, at the same time we would reduce the considerable waste of raw materials.
The project includes incorporating the MIDSTREAM System (Processing plants - processes - storage facilities - transport - collection lines) state-of-the-art tools to reduce and control leakage of CH4 methane associated with pipes and compressors. Also, pipeline inspection, external monitoring, and real-time leak detection technologies are included.