Strategies for Clean Oilfield Electrification
As oil and gas operators push their development drilling programs into more remote areas outside the defined fairways of the most prolific shale plays, they must balance production efficiency with emissions reduction.
Understanding the Options
Operators have several options for oilfield electrification.
- Grid Connection
Connecting wellheads and pads to the regional utility (one-way utility-to-site connection) is common and relatively simple, yet increasingly problematic. In regions like the Permian Basin where delays are most acute in the Delaware Basin region, wait times for grid connections can stretch to over two years, and utilities can suffer from reliability issues.
Additionally, data reported by the electric grids serving regions with the most active oil and gas production activity, like SPSO, MROW, RMPA, and ERCT, shows their NOₓ emissions are two to three times higher than those of modern microturbines. - Reciprocating Engine Generators
Often fueled by diesel or natural gas, also called “recips,” are modular and dispatchable, but they emit significantly more NOₓ and CO₂ than alternatives, and require more frequent maintenance and redundancy. - Self-Generation via Gas Turbines
FlexEnergy’s Flex Turbine® GT333S (333 kW microturbine) and GT2000S (2 MW Siemens-based unit) stand out for offering cleaner, faster power on-site with emissions far lower than most grid regions.
READ MORE: Oilfield Electrification Q&A
Why FlexEnergy Solutions Tops the Clean Power Chart
Lowest Emissions
- NOₓ ≤ 0.21 lb/MWh (15% O₂ corrected)—cleaner than most grids, the Flex Turbine from FlexEnergy Solutions is the go-to self-generation solution for operators looking to maximize generation capacity without exceeding Major Source emissions thresholds.
- Utility grids serving the most active Oil & Gas development regions, namely SPSO, MROW, RMPA AND ERCT all generate annual NOx emissions more than twice the level of the Flex Turbine.
Flare Gas Utilization
- Flex Turbine units convert waste gas and flare gas into power, eliminating routine flaring and venting, and reducing Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions.
Rapid Deployment & High Uptime
- Deployed in days, not years.
- Over 99% mechanical availability, requiring only a single eight‑hour service annually.
- Ideal for both brownfield and greenfield sites via modular FlexGrid microgrids.
Fuel Flexibility
- Compatible with a broad gas range: 350–2,500 Btu/scf, acid gas (up to 70% CO₂), and blends with H₂ (up to 30%).
Strategic Support & Leasing
- We are the OEM, meaning you get rapid service response and fast issue resolution. There is no middleman.
- Service centers cover the Permian, Bakken, Appalachian, and more.
- Leasing packages minimize upfront capital requirements, with long-term service contracts available
READ MORE: Oilfield Power Generation: Why the Grid May Not Be the Lowest Emission Option
Deployment Scenarios
Depending on the configuration of your operations and acreage position, we offer flexible deployment scenarios ranging from individual units on single well sites to pads having multiple units and even centralized microgrids that support a “hub-and-spoke” type of transmission network to multiple sites.
| Scenario | Solution | Benefit |
| Single well pad | GT333S microturbine | 24/7 clean power, low emissions |
| Large pad or midstream | GT2000S 2 MW turbine | Simplified one-unit operations |
| Multi-pad greenfield | FlexGrid microgrid | Scalable, remote-monitored system |
Real-World Results
Here are just a few examples of how FlexEnergy Solutions is helping oil and gas operators with clean and reliable off-grid power:
- Permian Basin: Large independent E&P deployed four GT333S Flex Turbine generators to convert associated natural gas into reliable baseload power for its oil production operations in the Permian Basin.
- Delaware (Permian) Basin: Deployed seven Flex Turbine units for a major operator to power multiple wells and an SWD facility, providing 2.3 MW with over 99% uptime with low emissions.
- Western Canada: A leading E&P firm uses 22 GT333S units having a combined generation capacity of ~7.5 MW with 10-year service, eliminating flaring and reducing overall emissions.
Implementing a Clean Electrification Strategy
There are five simple steps for implementing a clean oilfield electrification strategy:
- Audit site energy needs and gas availability. Identify suitable waste gas sources or wellhead gas.
- Compare emissions. Use utility grid data (eGRID) to assess Scope 2 emissions. If grid NOₓ is higher (likely in SPSO, etc.), an onsite turbine is cleaner.
- Design deployment with FlexGrid. Tailor modular microgrids to match growth and ensure remote monitoring.
- Choose owning vs leasing. Leasing offers capital efficiency; owning offers long-term asset control.
- Plan maintenance smartly. One 8-hour service annually simplifies scheduling and minimizes downtime.
Final Take: Clean, Simple, Smart
Flex Energy Solutions delivers a compelling electrification pathway:
- Lower emissions than grid power
- Rapid, scalable deployment
- Reliable uptime
- Effective flaring reduction
- Operational cost savings and permitting ease
For operators facing grid delays, air permitting issues, or remote site challenges, solutions using Flex Turbines offer the cleanest and most practical field power solution today.
Contact FlexEnergy Solutions to learn more about our Reliable, Clean, Power on Demand solutions at sales@flexenergy.com or +1 (720) 826-0708.