Natural Gas Generators for Oilfield Applications
When it comes to generators used in the oil & gas industry for oilfield applications – diesel generators have often been a preferred choice when it came to power up equipment when out on remote work sites. Due to their versatility, diesel generators can be towed and relocated from site to site, if sufficient diesel fuel could be trucked in to replenish fuel sources. While diesel generators are often touted as a main option, natural gas generators have become an increasingly more appealing option.
Previously, diesel generators were often employed due to the capability of refueling the generator via fuel deliveries and are capable of being mounted to a trailer for ease of transportation. As generator technology continues to advance, natural gas generators have been able to provide benefits and, in some instances, a major advantage over their diesel generator counterparts.
Stranded Gas Providing New Opportunity
When evaluating the oil & gas industry over the years, especially within oilfield applications like drilling for crude oil, there are times where stranded gas, also known as wellhead gas, is released whether due to the drillers hitting a pocket or dug accidentally while drilling. While this previously may have been considered a loss due to the need to either vent the gas (which is considered non-eco-friendly option) or flare the gas (which is considered an eco-friendlier option). Venting gas is a process in which oil & gas companies will allow the methane gas unearthed to release into the air to clear out of their drilling site. This is not considered a good option, as the methane released into the atmosphere produces greenhouse effects that are worse than carbon dioxide. Due to this reason, many oil & gas companies opt to flare the gas. Flaring gas is a process in which oil & gas companies burn the gas, since flared gas emissions result in carbon dioxide which is considered less harmful for the environment to when methane gas is released into the atmosphere. While this may sound like a friendlier choice, there are some downfalls to this method. Though flared gas is better emissions wise when compared to releasing methane, flaring gas does not burn up 100% of the gas and it’s considered to be only about 75% to 90% efficient. So, while flaring gas may be a better choice environmentally than venting, it still has its shortcomings. There are also those who contend that even though flaring gas may be less harmful to the environment, the result of flaring gas is carbon dioxide which is still being released into the atmosphere and find it a downside. Pair this along with the fact that 75% – 90% of flared gas is burned up, there is a mix of methane and carbon dioxide being released together (although considerably less methane than venting).
As natural gas generator technology continues to advance, portable natural gas generators have become a strong contender when it comes to off grid power within the oil & gas industry. Natural gas generators that are installed within a portable trailer mounted package enable these gas generators to be moved from site to site where oil and gas companies are drilling for crude oil and supply electricity by running off stranded or wellhead gas that is unearthed. Previously, drillers considered stranded gas to be a loss, as drilling operations often either occurred away from a natural gas utility or the drilling crew are often ill-equipped to route the gas to an existing pipeline. This stranded gas was usually vented or flared as mentioned above. With portable natural gas generators, they can utilize the wellhead gas that is dug up and can even use it to supply key equipment such as pumps, and other equipment used in oilfields.
Benefits of Portable Natural Gas Generators for Oil & Gas
One of the biggest benefits for oil & gas operators to use a portable natural gas generator for oilfield applications is cost savings. When using a diesel generator, it can be costly to purchase diesel fuel and cover expenses to truck fuel in to power a diesel generator depending on where operations are taking place. With stranded gas, it’s a by-product of drilling operations and can be utilized without having to truck in diesel fuel to power a diesel generator.
Another benefit considered is that it is considered more friendly for the environment. As mentioned earlier, venting methane is extremely harmful for the environment when released into the atmosphere. Flaring gas still only burns about 75% – 90% and produces a mix of carbon dioxide and residual methane that is not burned up. When using a natural gas generator, it burns up 100% of the fuel and produces carbon dioxide. While there are many strong arguments that emissions are still being produced, these emissions are still considered significantly less harmful to the environment in comparison to methane.
Although natural gas generators are also controlled under EPA emissions regulations and guidelines, they are also considered less stringent when compared to their diesel generator counterparts that must meet higher EPA Tier requirements. When comparing the costs of diesel generators that have higher costs associated with them due to EPA Tier ratings, a natural gas generator may be a more favorable option. While initial upfront costs for a natural gas generator may be high, the overall cost of using a natural gas generator in oilfield applications may help with savings in the long run.
Considerations for Using a Portable Natural Gas Generator
It must be said that while a portable natural gas generator is simple in concept, it is not as simple as a tow, run, and go process like with diesel generator. There are a few extra steps involved to ensure that the natural gas generator can use any stranded or wellhead gas to power equipment. When running a natural gas generator off wellhead gas, a scrubbing system is used to filter out any solids and water that are apparent when drilling. The gas is separated on-site and then fed into the generator. As the gas feeds through to the generator, a gas/liquid separator treats and conditions the gas as it’s entering the engine. While some brands of portable natural gas generators include a scrubbing system built into the unit, other brands have it available as an add-on, so be sure to check to make sure that you are well equipped before attempting to run your generator for any oilfield applications.
It’s also important to analyze stranded gas before connecting the generator, since fuel composition can directly impact the generator’s power rating and performance. For example, the fuel composition may not be sufficient to power the generator or may cause problems with the generator engine.
There may be instances where the gas composition is considered unusable or the quantity of gas available is insufficient. There are a good number of natural gas generators that can be converted to run off propane, so in situations where the wellhead gas is unusable, propane may be an option. It is important to prepare for these situations in advance to ensure that you’re not stuck out in the field with inoperable equipment due to lack of fuel.
Additional Applications
While portable natural gas generators are a key piece in power equipment for oilfield drilling operations within the oil & gas industry, there has been an increase in cryptocurrency miners that are employing these portable natural gas generators to leverage wellhead gas as a cost-effective energy solution to power their mining rigs.
More information on how the cryptocurrency + oil & gas industry intersect can be found here:
Cryptocurrency Meets Oil & Gas Industry
Conclusion
While some operators may choose to continue using diesel generators when off-site during oilfield operations, there is a viable alternative in natural gas generators. Since each project site may differ from location or situation, it’s important to consider to pros and cons for both diesel and natural gas portable generators to ensure that you’re securing equipment that best fit your needs.
If you’re looking for more information or would like help before making your decision, feel free to reach out to us at Woodstock Power Company.
610-658-3242
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