HY-BON/EDI Blog: Quad O Compliance and Vent Gas Management
Apr 7, 2016
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Existing Source Regulations and Information Collection Requests (ICR) for Oil and Gas Sources On March 10, the EPA announced their plans to develop methane rules for existing sources located in the oil and gas production, processing and transmission segments under Clean Air Act Section 111(d). Building off of proposed regulations requiring methane reductions from new and modified sources (i.e., NSPS Subpart OOOOa for oil and gas sources), EPA is now developing standards for existing sources as well (not entirely unlike the process used for developing requirements for existing electric generating units under the Clean Power Plan). EPA announced their intent to "move quickly" and to "start immediately" to develop regulations controlling methane emissions from existing oil and gas industry sources. |
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Apr 5, 2016
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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing to modify its air quality regulations applicable primarily to operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Arctic waters. |
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Feb 29, 2016
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Heater treaters can be significant sources of “flash gas” from oil and gas production facilities. Flash gas is natural gas that is released from a wellstream when the liquid undergoes a pressure drop or when the liquid’s temperature is increased. In the treater, the crude oil/condensate and produced water experience a pressure drop and a temperature increase. The greater the pressure drop and operating temperature, the greater the amount of gas generated per barrel of oil throughput. |
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Feb 17, 2016
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There has continuing focus by the USEPA on air quality regulatory enforcement of vent gas (VOCs, methane) emissions from oil and gas operations. These regulations place a large liability on industry to know the regulations and comply with all of the emission controls, standards, testing, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. As regulations are incorporated into a company’s day to day compliance systems, there is a need to be aware that enforcement of the rules is a reality. |
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Jan 6, 2016
| This dual sliding vane compressor package (that is, two RoFlo 12S compressors on a single skid) was designed for a wet gas application in Argentina with cold weather considerations including internal heaters on the motors and heat trace and insulation on all process piping to protect from hydrate formation and paraffin deposition. A double bellows seal was also added to maintain near zero emissions from either compressor. Each compressor also includes suction and discharge blocking valves … |
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Dec 29, 2015
| Everyday environmental professionals are estimating emissions from oil and gas production facilities and supplying data that will be used to make decisions that cost companies money. Typically, the estimation is done using a combination of methods as described in this blog. Notably, this data affects the following: Type of air pollution controls installed. Air permit type that applies based on emission source or facility total emissions such as a minor source or a major source. Greenhou… |
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Dec 21, 2015
| The focus to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) – especially methane (CH4) – from oil and gas (O&G) operations is resulting in the evaluation and quantification of all potential GHG emission sources. The attention at this time is on CH4 emissions from sources at the exploration, production, gathering, processing, transmission and distribution sectors. CH4 from many O&G emission source types have been measured and quantified by projects funded by industry and nongovernmental organizations. Th… |
Oct 23, 2015
| Regulatory requirements to control vent gas from oil and gas (O&G) storage tanks tend to have the choice of vapor recovery or flaring. The federal NSPS OOOO and state air permitting rule are the major drivers for storage tank emission controls. Storage tank vent gas is natural gas that will contain methane (CH4), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and possibly hydrogen sulfide (H2S) for sour gas wells. Operators are aware of the nationwide push to further reduce emissions from produ… |
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Oct 8, 2015
| In September 2015, the EPA published a Compliance Alert addressing concerns for VOC emissions from onshore O&G storage vessels using emission control devices (VRUs, combustors, flares). The Alert discusses engineering and maintenance practices that can improve compliance and reduce air emissions. It also summarizes many of the good practices that O&G operators already use. It is not definitive guidance on good practices and following the guidance does not guarantee compliance with air qu… |
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Sep 18, 2015
| By Jason Spiess for Bakken Breakout There are some who argue that in the world of economics, the world is flat. The wired world has made claims our collective consciousness is becoming flat. There was even a time when some argued the actual physical world was flat. Today, this writer is suggesting the easiest way to understand crude oil is to know flat Coke. Pop and culture metaphors aside, times and technologies change, ideas evolve and perceptions personify. When given the assignment of … |
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