Well Site Vapor Assessments – The Key to Unlocking Pathways to Zero Venting and Flaring Emissions

Across the country, operators are scrambling to respond to changing environmental regulations and acute stakeholder pressure to improve their ESG performance.

This includes quantifying, understanding, and eliminating the venting and flaring of natural gas at well sites and production facilities.

Calls for increased transparency in emissions reporting are also growing, which should further incentivize operators to properly quantify what’s currently happening at their wellsites.

Common questions that arise are:

• Are our tank batteries venting, and why?
• To what degree does tank vapor flaring contribute to our emissions?
• How would I go about capturing this gas and selling it instead?
• Can I sell the tank vapor at my site?
• Are we at risk of being cited and fined?

Understanding the venting and flaring of tank vapors and available methods for reducing such emissions is a new challenge for many.

And, in many cases, while routine flaring is a visible practice and tanks are known to vent, real data on the frequency and amount of flaring and venting over time is often neither measured nor reported

This can unfortunately lead to sensational reports when these emissions are ‘exposed’ by third parties with a gas detection camera or sensor.

In contrast, the EcoVapor team has been working with low pressure gas and storage tanks for over a decade.

We routinely work with operators to assess their sites and provide real time data on flaring and tank venting.

In many cases, we also help provide solutions and document the resulting improvement in operating conditions and emissions from a measured baseline.

Assessing the Situation

A site assessment typically begins with the installation of several instruments to gather data on sources of emissions. These may include:

• Tank pressure measurement – measures how tank pressure is varying with time and the frequency and duration of any venting that is taking place.
• Oxygen content – determines whether tank vapor would meet pipeline specifications without treatment.
• Volumetric flow measurement (on the flare line) – allows calculation of VOC and GHG emissions and quantification of the opportunity associated with flaring reduction or elimination.
• Tank gas sampling – estimates the composition and value of the vapor being flared, which is often richer than the produced gas stream.

Measurements are performed over a period of several weeks to obtain a representative record of site conditions, since day-to-day variations in well performance and ambient conditions may have a significant impact on emission potential.

EcoVapor provides a small instrument skid that houses a control module (PLC) and data communication modules that interface with the tank pressure transmitters, thermal mass flow meter, and oxygen sensor(s).

This stand-alone skid has been designed to minimize any interference with existing site equipment and operations and is powered by an integrated solar array.

Putting the Assessment to Work

The completed site assessment will quantify the opportunity for emission reduction, and serve as the basis for a straightforward cost-benefit analysis of a tank vapor capture and treatment system, if applicable.

EcoVapor is always happy to provide guidance on comprehensive emission reduction solutions for the operator to consider.

We often also help with operating practices, and the selection, placement, and installation of instruments.

Our focus is always on helping the operator maximize production (and thus, revenue) while reducing or eliminating emissions.

At the end of the day, there is no substitute for real data when it comes to quantifying an opportunity, designing a solution, and realizing the anticipated improvement.

If you’re ready to get to grips with venting and flaring emissions at your well sites, drop us a line at info@ecovaporrs.com or give us a call.  We’re here to help.