The tankless facility approach is an innovative solution in response to lowering emissions and lowering the risks associated with using storage tanks on well sites, while remaining economically sound.
Many customers are inquiring about Cimarron Energy’s “Tankless Facility” solution and how it can lower emissions and lower the risks associated with using tanks on well sites. Our solution eliminates the need for temporary storage of oil by using a blowcase to pressurize the oil for injection into an oil pipeline using available gas from a compressor.
Our Tankless Facility design works this way:
- Oil from the production system enters the collection vessel (upper horizontal vessel on image).
- Oil from the Collection Vessel flows to the blowcase (lower horizontal vessel on image).
- After the oil enters the blowcase, the blowcase is pressurized using natural gas from the system (e.g., gas compression). Blowcase pressure is increased to a level needed for injection into an oil pipeline.
- Oil from the pressurized blowcase is sent to an oil pipeline.
- The blowcase is then depressured to atmospheric conditions. Gas from depressuring the blowcase can be routed back to the suction of a compressor (preferred for zero emissions) and/or sent to a flare or Enclosed Combustion Device (ECD) for combustion.
- After the blowcase is depressurized, the cycle for gathering and sending the oil to the pipeline can be repeated.
This design can also be used to send produced water to a produced water gathering pipeline.
Benefits
The benefits of going tankless include the following:
- Risk and cost reductions due to the reduced number of loading trucks and personnel coming in and out of the well site.
- Without tanks, marketing contracts already in place with the pipeline company can be continued.
- Significantly reduces the chance of air (oxygen) being pulled into the system by the VRUs.
- Reduced risk of fire/explosion or pipeline shut in.
- Eliminates the chance of tank explosion from lightning strikes.
- Eliminates spills from truck loading of oil.
- Eliminates highway spills or releases from accidents/overfilling tanks.
- Reduced likelihood of a regulatory inspection or FLIR survey.
Risk Reduction
The Tankless Facility reduces or eliminates the following risks associated with storage tanks:
- Risk of accidental fugitive emissions released by failing Enardo valves or thief hatches left open that could result in a Notice of Violation from the regulatory authority.
- Risk of air (oxygen) being pulled into the system when using VRUs, with associated risk of fire/explosion or pipeline shut in.
- Risk of tank explosion from lightning strikes.
- Risk of spills from truck loading.
- Risk of highway spills or releases from accidents/overfilling tanks.
- Risk of random regulatory inspection or FLIR survey finding leaking tanks.
Tankless Requirements and Considerations
The following are requirements and considerations for the solution:
- Oil pipeline access.
- Source of compression to pressurize natural gas for injection of oil into a pipeline.
- Gas compression needs to be greater than pipeline pressure.
- Flare or enclosed combustion device (ECD) to combust natural gas from the blowcase if not able to send to the suction of the compressor.
- Electricity available for pipeline pumps.
- Consideration needed regarding well allocation and metering; this may require multiple blowcases or pump skids.
- Emergency tanks may be needed for pipeline shut-ins.
Concerned About Venting of Natural Gas?
Let us assist your company with vent gas regulation compliance. Our experience can help with your vent gas management needs. Along with Tankless Facilities, our products and services include the following:
- Vent gas measurement and leak detection services
- Vapor recovery units (VRU)
- Vapor recovery towers (VRT)
- Enclosed Combustors (ECD)
- Flares
- Field Service (VRU/VCU maintenance, tank seal inspection/replacement, leak detection)