Introduction
Pressures from the investment community and other stakeholders combined with the new Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) instituted in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have the industry looking for solutions to reduce emissions from Oil & Gas operations. Reducing the industry’s emissions footprint is a key environmental performance goal for leading oil and natural gas producers looking to fulfill their missions of providing reliable, affordable and clean energy to power the modern lifestyle.
Certified natural gas markets can play an important role in this effort, as coal-to-gas switching has helped reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power generation sector. Industrial users and consumers alike seek to reduce their emissions footprint, and certified gas markets are playing an important role in providing assurance that the natural gas they use has been sourced from operations having low emissions.
In this article, we explore the importance of certified gas markets, focus on emissions reduction and delve into the unique value of FlexEnergy Solutions for achieving and maintaining natural gas certification standards.
What is Certified Gas?
Certified gas markets are designed to assure consumers that the natural gas they use meets specific quality and environmental standards. Natural gas certifications verify that the gas is sourced responsibly, processed efficiently and transported safely, minimizing fugitive emissions.
Natural gas certifications provide transparency and accountability in the gas supply chain, allowing businesses and consumers to make informed choices that align with their sustainability goals. Furthermore, they incentivize producers and operators to adopt environmentally friendly practices and technologies, ultimately leading to a reduction in the carbon footprint associated with natural gas production and consumption.
Currently, there is no officially recognized definition of what constitutes “certified gas,” and the companies offering gas certifications use different terms to describe their offerings. Terms range from “responsibly sourced gas” (RSG) to “independently certified gas” (ICG) to “certified low emissions gas” and even “independently certified responsibly sourced gas”.
The three most prominent gas certifications include:
- MiQ Standard from MiQ (Methane Intelligence)
- TrustWell™ 2.0 from Project Canary
- EO100™ Standard from Equitable Origin
Focus on Well Site Emissions
The one thing that all gas certifications have in common is a focus on air emissions from well sites and facilities, including exhaust, venting, flaring and fugitive emissions. The emissions focus of the three most common gas certifications is summarized below.
- MiQ Standard. The MiQ Standard – Onshore Production, specifically recognizes efforts to minimize the use of flaring and the use of gas turbine generators in place of reciprocating engines can help operators achieve higher certification grades.
- TrustWell 2.0 methodology. The TrustWell 2.0 Environmental Factors – Exhaust category, specifically asks “Are natural gas powered generators used for onsite power generation?” Replacing reciprocating engines powered by diesel or natural gas with clean burning gas turbine generators helps achieve higher scores.
- Equitable Origin EO100 Standard. In the Technical Supplement Onshore Natural Gas and Light Oil Production (October 2022, Version 2.0) recognizes the use of natural gas powered generators in place of diesel engines as a “best practice” at their highest certification designation (Objective 5.10 Performance Targets).
The above list is not exhaustive, and strong performance in the individual performance criteria noted above does not necessarily mean that a specific well site or facility would score well in other considered factors. We suggest operators consult with independent auditors familiar with certified gas standards and/or the certification companies themselves for a more comprehensive view of their operations and how they might be assessed under the various standards.
The FlexEnergy Advantage
The choice of genset for oil and gas production operations impacts the emissions footprint of operating locations and its gas certification potential. The Flex Turbine® from FlexEnergy Solutions is a proven gas microturbine used by leading Oil & Gas operators to deliver efficient, clean and reliable field power, which can support certified gas initiatives.
Emissions Profile: The Flex Turbine boasts the lowest exhaust emissions of any field power genset. Its advanced design and combustion technology enable it to operate with extremely low emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This means that when used for power generation in Oil & Gas applications, the Flex Turbine significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with energy production. READ MORE: Understanding Field Power Emissions Profiles and Options
Reliability and Efficiency: Flex Turbines are known for their high reliability and efficiency. They can operate on a wide range of fuels, , making them versatile and suitable for various applications in the Oil & Gas industry. Their high electrical and thermal efficiency ensures that operators can maximize energy output while minimizing waste, further contributing to emissions reduction.
Flexibility: Flex Turbines are known for their adaptability and flexibility. They can be integrated seamlessly into existing operations, providing on-site power generation that reduces the need for flaring or venting excess gases, a common source of emissions in Oil & Gas operations. This flexibility allows operators to improve environmental performance while optimizing energy use.
Benefits
FlexEnergy Solutions can help Energy producers capitalize on certified gas markets, and capture the following benefits:
- Capitalize on Certified Gas Markets. Certified gas offers the potential to both (a) fetch a higher price and (b) differentiate responsibly sourced natural gas to industrial users and consumers.
- Emissions Reduction. Certified gas markets encourage the use of cleaner natural gas, while the Flex Turbine’s low emissions profile ensures minimal environmental impact during power generation. Flex Turbine represents the lowest emissions alternative, aligning with environmental objectives and regulations. Low exhaust emissions of ≤10ppm NOx and CO (corrected to 15% Oxygen on natural gas at ISO conditions). Meets most stringent state and federal requirements for air permitting.
- Flaring Mitigation. By using gas and tank vapors produced on site, Flex Turbine solutions help reduce and potentially eliminate routine flaring, further reducing emissions and converting a waste stream into clean, reliable power. The Flex Turbine reliably generates power using collected flare gas and vent gas, converting a waste stream into beneficial use, reducing overall wellsite emissions.
- Certifications promote responsible sourcing and processing of natural gas, aligning with global sustainability goals.
- Flex Turbines enhance energy efficiency, reducing waste and operational costs for Oil & Gas operators.
- Flex Turbines can utilize various fuels, offering adaptability to changing energy needs.
- High reliability and few moving parts contribute to the high uptime of the Flex Turbine microturbine and GT2000S, especially when compared to reciprocating engine generators, safeguarding continuous production and cash flow. The Flex Turbine requires only one eight-hour scheduled maintenance annually, typically completed in one shift, and remote monitoring provides for fast service response times to minimize unplanned service interruptions.
- Eliminates Diesel. Site gas is used for power. Eliminates the need for diesel transport, simultaneously cutting added emissions from typical diesel- or gas-powered reciprocating engine turbines.
- Flexible, Scalable. The modular design of the Flex Turbine allows special and custom turbine configurations to be built ranging from 200kW to multi-Megawatts, including microgrids. Individual main components can be modified or designed out of custom turbine configurations.
- Wide Fuel Tolerance. Runs on gas ranging from 350 Btu/scf to 2500 Btu/scf, handles sour gas with H2S content up to 6,500 ppmv, contains up to 70% CO2 and can burn gas with nitrogen content up to 30%.
Summary
Certified gas markets are growing in importance as a method for assuring natural gas consumers, commercial, industrial and consumers, that the gas they are using is responsibly sourced from sustainable operations. Field power options from FlexEnergy Solutions help Oil & Gas operators and transporters minimize air emissions and mitigate routine flaring, helping them achieve the highest gas certification standards.
Contact FlexEnergy Solutions to learn more about our reliable, clean and simple field power solutions at info@flexenergy.com or +1 (720) 573-7664.