HY-BON/EDI Blog: Quad O Compliance and Vent Gas Management
Dec 19, 2014
| Process Description Operators are often required to dehydrate natural gas streams that are saturated with water vapor to meet pipeline specifications. Water in a natural gas pipelines can result in hydrates that obstruct or plug the pipe. Also, water vapor in a pipeline can cause corrosion due to the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the natural gas. Most natural gas producers use triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydrators to remove water from natural gas to meet pipe… |
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Dec 4, 2014
| Process Description Casinghead gas is natural gas produced with oil in oil wells and is usually the flash gas from the oil reservoir. Casinghead gas collects in the annular space between the well tubing and casing of an oil well. The weight of the casinghead gas contributes to reducing the bottom hole pressure and lowering well production – specifically by holding a back-pressure against the formation. Reducing the gas pressure on the well casing (annulus) can increase oil production. The goa… |
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Nov 24, 2014
| What is a SEP? SEPs (Supplemental Environmental Projects) are voluntary projects that reduce pollution discharges or improve the quality of the environment. These projects are typically a part of a settlement agreement for an environmental enforcement action. Some state environmental regulatory agencies use the term Beneficial Environmental Projects (BEP) for their state only programs. A respondent in an enforcement action (federal or state) may negotiate an agreement to perform a SEP in ord… |
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Nov 14, 2014
| Buying and selling oil and gas properties is a mainstay of the oil and gas industry – and prudent buyers conduct “due diligence” for their acquisition(s). For the process, companies include a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) to determine if any existing or potential recognized environmental conditions are present - indicating contamination with oil or other chemicals. The Phase I ESA includes a site visit and review of reasonably ascertainable information. NORM surveys, sampling of… |
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Nov 7, 2014
| Many oil and gas operators use environmental consultants or in-house specialists to prepare air permit applications for oil and gas production facilities. This is needed since air quality rules can be complicated due to the alphabet soup of regulations affecting the industry. The result is often that only a few people fully understand what is required for regulatory compliance. Also, the permit that a company receives from the regulator may not clearly spell out what is required for compliance… |
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Oct 31, 2014
| EPA Gas STAR Gold Program for Methane The EPA’s Natural Gas STAR Program is a voluntary partnership designed to inspire oil and natural gas companies to implement profitable technologies and practices that reduce methane emissions. The program has many success stories since its beginning in 1993. If your company has not been active in Gas STAR program, consider participating beginning this year. With all of the focus on the NSPS OOOO (Quad O) requirements for mandatory reduction of VO… |
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Oct 22, 2014
| Use the Power of the Vapor Recovery Tower Operators are always looking for ways to improve vapor recovery unit (VRU) performance and to avoid NSPS OOOO (Quad O). Using a vapor recovery tower along with a VRU, a facility can increase production of natural gas and decrease air emissions. Vapor recovery towers (VRTs) are tall, vertical separators used to recover flash gas emissions that would be generated in a crude oil storage tank. Flash gas results from natural gas coming out of solutio… |
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Oct 10, 2014
| Oil and gas operators know that obtaining the correct oil and gas air permits for their operations is essential. There is truly an “Alphabet Soup” of air pollution regulations to follow for oil and gas operations. Knowing the different air permit types in no longer the domain of only the environmental department and consultants. These permits affect operations, engineering, safety, legal and accounting departments. Permitting the facility correctly can save your company money and lower you… |
Oct 2, 2014
| Oil and gas operators (O&G) know that air pollution is an important matter to be concerned about every day. Air quality rules affect operations, engineering, accounting, purchasing, and environmental and safety departments. With the focus on hydraulic fracturing of wells and resultant air emissions from new well facilities, these air quality issues are expected to only get more regulatory scrutiny. In fact, the EPA is currently looking at the potential to make the NSPS OOOO (Quad O) regul… |
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Sep 25, 2014
| All over the media there is news about climate change and greenhouse gases (GHGs). Many in the oil and gas industry do not work directly with GHG issues but most realize that this matter is and will continue to affect their companies. This is a brief summary of GHGs and the oil and gas industry that can help ensure GHG reporting compliance. What are the GHGs of concern? The EPA greenhouse gases (GHG) requiring reporting by industry include the following: Greenhouse Gas Che… |
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