Innovations seek to reduce emissions

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Our Jonah team in Wyoming is conducting pilot projects to help reduce emissions from our operations and improve local air quality.

Two of these pilots involve testing condensate stabilization systems. Condensates are hydrocarbons that have been changed from a gas to a liquid during the production of natural gas due to changes in temperature and pressure. Once separated from the gas, condensate and water are stored in tanks on well sites and at central delivery points.

Flash gas vapours are generated when the condensate is sent from the production separator to the storage tank. Those vapours have historically been sent to a combustor for disposal, which reduces emissions by 98 percent. Although the combustor achieves a substantial reduction in emissions to the environment it does not totally eliminate them.

However, when condensate is processed through a stabilizer tower it can become stable and be stored at atmospheric conditions without creating flash gas vapours. In addition, any flash gas vapours recovered during the stabilization process can be compressed to sales pipeline specifications and sold as produced natural gas.

This is just one example of how our culture of innovation and focus on continuous improvement is helping us be a responsible operator.