November 4, 2015
For More Information, Contact:
Rich Haut: rhaut@harcresearch.org, 281.364.6053
Loy Sneary: loy@gcgenergy.com, 979.240.3512
Flare Emissions Dramatically Reduced
Oil & Gas Project Creates Beneficial Use for Flare Gas
To help reduce the amount of flared gas and emissions from flaring in the oil fields, The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Program, managed by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), teamed up with Gulf Coast Green Energy, ElectraTherm, Inc., and the Hess Corporation to test the ElectraTherm Power+ Generator™, at a Hess oil well in North Dakota. The project captures natural gas that would otherwise be flared to generate low emission electricity and reduce or eliminate onsite flaring by using the Power+ Generator™.
The State of North Dakota Department of Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) have recently begun to regulate open flaring of raw gas (untreated) and fuel gas (treated). The Texas A&M Institute of Renewal Natural Resources (IRNR) conducted research and collected data from the Hess test site in the Bakken Shale Play in North Dakota during September, 2015. The data was part of an emissions research study for comparing emissions from the Power+ Generator’s (Power+) boiler to the emissions from open flaring.
According to the report, “It is important to note that the emissions from the Power+ Generator system’s boiler are lower (comparatively less harmful to the environment) and would provide the added utility of power generated for use from the raw gas or fuel gas which would otherwise be wasted.” The report includes this Table to show the emissions reductions by the Power+ Generator.
| CO avg % | 89.1 |
| NOx avg % | 48.1 |
| VOC avg % | 92.8 |
Table 8. Percent Reduction in Emissions
In conclusion, the Report states that “The real benefit is the power generated by raw gas or fuel gas which would otherwise be wasted by open flaring. Furthermore, this new technology would meet the goals of the US EPA and North Dakota.”
Click here to view the full report prepared by Texas A&M/Institute of Renewable Natural Resources under HARC/EFD.
A short video on the project is available at https://youtu.be/_srTTY0J_E8.
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About The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems
The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems Program managed by HARC, provides unbiased science to address environmental aspects associated with petroleum drilling and production operations. The objective is to identify, develop, and transfer critical, cost effective technologies, from site selection through gas compression, in order to provide policy makers and industry with the ability to develop reserves in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. For more information, visit www.efdsystems.org.
About The Houston Advanced Research Center
A nonprofit organization based in The Woodlands, Texas, HARC is a research hub providing independent analysis on energy, air, and water issues to people seeking scientific answers. HARC is focused on building a sustainable future that helps people thrive and nature flourish. For more information, visit www.HARCresearch.org.
About Gulf Coast Green Energy
Gulf Coast Green Energy specializes in selling and installing waste heat-to-power energy efficiency technologies for oil and gas, geothermal, industrial internal combustion engines, and industrial solar thermal applications. GCGE is the first ElectraTherm distributor and helped pioneer the development of several economically and environmentally sound solutions for the Power+ Generator including the flare-to-power solution for the O&G, waste water treatment facilities and landfills.
Visit www.gulfcoastgreenenergy.com.
Additional Contacts
ElectraTherm: 775.398.4680, info@electratherm.com
