The problem of methane emissions from traditional gas lift operations is an issue that the oil and gas industry can no longer ignore. More operators are taking proactive steps in an effort to mitigate or eliminate methane emissions at the well, striking a balance between well economics and environmental mitigation.
To date, many methane elimination solutions for gas-lift processes are unreliable and create additional cost and operational burdens for operators. A different approach to gas lift – using the patented QuickSet™ skid-mounted system – is offering a better answer.
Containing Emissions Via “Closed-Loop” Gas Lift Design
Already proven on more than 75 wells, the QuickSet® skid by Liftrock eliminates methane emissions, employing a unique closed-loop gas lift design that captures 100% of escaping well gas. Instead of allowing fugitive gas to escape into the atmosphere, QuickSet captures and reuses the escaped gas as fuel gas or for gas-lift operations. The QuickSet system also does away with the need for liquid storage and puts an end to shutdown events associated with atmospheric tanks such as dump freeze ups and scrubber liquid shutdowns. The result is greater facility uptime and improved overall gas lift performance.
Measuring Eliminated Emissions in Real Time
There are many systems available on the market that identify fugitive emissions. However, QuickSet is the only gas-lift system that eliminates these emissions. This fact is confirmed by QuickSet’s built-in telemetry system, which provides real-time data on the associated methane, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) that are captured, preventing them from releasing into the atmosphere. This information is detailed in a monthly report (see below), which provides operators with quantifiable results that document the carbon footprint reductions pertaining to each facility.
Solving the Problem While Creating Positive Cash Flow
The emissions data collected from QuickSet skids to date indicate that on average, .025 MILLION STANDARD CUBIC FEET PER DAY (MMSCFD) of methane is emitted per .500 MMSCFD of gas injected. (This is equal to 5% of injection volumes.)
Utilizing this data set, a single well can be expected to emit approximately 9.125 MMSCF per year, while also putting 140 tons-per-year of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and 8 tons-per-year of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) into the environment.
Actual Well Data
The emissions data collected by QuickSet units to date indicate that on average, a single, gas-lifted well can emit approximately 9.125 MMSCF per year, while also putting 140 tons-per-year of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and 8 tons-per-year of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) into the environment. By eliminating the release of 9.125 MMSCF per year per well on a 16-well pad, QuickSet can deliver an additional $584,000 per year in gas savings revenue (9.125 MMSCF x 16 wells = 146 MMSCF x $4/MMSCF = $584,000), all while eliminating 2,240 tons per year of (VOCs) and 128 tons-per-year of (HAPs).
Mitigating Losses
Viewed another way, gas-lift design studies show that for every 1% less-than-targeted gas-lift injection rate there is an equal negative impact to production. Considering the emissions data referenced above, there is a 5% loss (.025 MMSCFD per every .500 MMSCFD) in gas-lift volume. With production volumes at 250 bbl/day/per wells at $50.00/bbl, a single QuickSet skid could save an operator $3.65 million per year (250 bbl/day x $50/bbl = $12,500 x 16 wells x 365 days = $73 MM x 5% = $3.65 MM) by utilizing that gas for its intended purpose of production enhancement, versus emitting it to the atmosphere.
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Eliminating emissions at the well often requires additional investments, leading to an increase in operational burdens. QuickSet is the only gas-lift system that eliminates methane emissions, while also improving uptime and increasing cash flow.