How to Rethink Flaring

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Methane Emission Regulations Rescinded?

It takes a talented team to successfully lease and operate over 160,000 acres of land across the Eagle Ford, Buda, Pearsall, Olmos, and San Miguel Basins. San Antonio-based BlackBrush Oil & Gas not only does this well, but also runs its integrated network of wells and tank batteries in remote and off-grid locations. BlackBrush’s range of operations — including oil, wet gas, and dry gas — regularly present a number of mission-critical challenges. These challenges affect both production and a number of key stakeholders including shareholders, neighbors, and royalty owners.

Some of BlackBrush’s operational challenges include a nonexistent electrical power grid infrastructure; high costs associated with time and labor for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance; and high risks associated with trespassing, vandalism, and equipment theft.

Challenges from stakeholders, local land owners, and royalty owners include visible flames associated with open flares; noise pollution associated with engines and generators; traffic associated with the frequent comings and goings of maintenance crews and service vehicles; and lost income associated with flared products that are not sold to market or utilized.

More than just critical thinking was necessary to both overcome these challenges and benefit from present opportunities. BlackBrush Oil & Gas learned about Alphabet Energy’s PGCTM after hearing about its midstream work with Encana & Sinopec. Well ahead of many of its regional peers, BlackBrush purchased PGCTM units to transfer Alphabet Energy’s proven midstream technology to well pads in South Texas for the generation of reliable power for house loads.

The single, fully integrated PGCTM delivers both near-complete destruction of volatile gases and meets BlackBrush’s need for on-site power generation by converting post-combustion heat into electricity. The value proposition was a clear fit for BlackBrush, and both its engineering and operations teams concluded that PGCTM was the best solution for reliable power and safe, validated waste destruction. The PGCTM design uses an enclosed combustion chamber with forced air blowers that eliminate smoke and visible flames — a clear win for neighbors, ranchers, and landowners. The 2.5 kW of power generated by BlackBrush’s PGCTM will allow the company to upgrade site Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and install instrument air packages that allow for significant improvements in site reliability and safety, fewer callouts and reduced fugitive emissions associated with pneumatic controllers and pumps.

BlackBrush selected two of its most challenging Eagle Ford production sites for the initial deployments and proving of two Alphabet Energy PGCTM units. These well pads did not have electrical infrastructure, but now BlackBrush Oil & Gas is ready to standardize its site designs with new electrical loads, and its team is looking forward to the increased optionality and improved safety of having reliable power on site.

 

For more information, including site data figures for electrical draw and emissions reductions, please contact [email protected] or call Ty Henrich at 972-632-6728. Learn more about Alphabet Energy by visiting alphabetenergy.com.

 

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