Reduce methane emissions by converting flare gas into power at remote sites using Solar® Turbines Mobile Turbomachinery solutions
Reducing methane emissions is increasingly being seen as a way to meet global GHG emission targets – the EPA suggests “one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today is due to human-caused emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that traps about 30 times as much heat as carbon dioxide, and sharp cuts over the next decade will have a near-term beneficial impact on the climate”. Pledges made during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), and recently proposed changes to the EPA’s Clean Air Act, have also targeted methane emission reductions. This focus will put increasing pressure on Oil & Gas producers, in the US and elsewhere, to take measures.
Eliminating Flare Gas
To reduce methane emissions in oil drilling, producers must stop flaring associated gases released during oil extraction and e-fracking.
Although associated gas can be captured – which is happening in some locations, including the Permian Basin with pipelines, collection stations, and gas processing – the cost of infrastructure to process and move gas from remote locations has been prohibitive.
Responding to this industry need, webinar speaker Jay Mistry noted, Solar® Turbines introduced the Solar Mobile Turbomachinery 60 (SMT60), a mobile power generation unit which allows producers to convert associated gas that was previously flared into electricity for field operations and onsite production. The SMT60 has been designed as a single trailer unit with minimal connections, allowing for quick setup time.
This solution offers 5.7 MW of power output and is based on Solar Turbines Taurus 60 gas turbine design, which has been an industry leader for 30 years, with 376 million hours of operation.
Many producers use diesel-powered generators for electricity, which requires trucking in diesel fuel. Instead, the flare gas can be used directly to generate electricity. The ability of the SMT60 to burn wellhead gas with minimal treatment produces a double dip in emissions: it eliminates wasteful flaring and avoids burning diesel fuel for electricity.
The SMT60 offers oil production companies new options to pursue sustainable power solutions. It leverages the abundant supply of natural gas and displaces diesel costs, and lowers CO2 emissions.
Solar® took into account customer needs when introducing the SMT60 design:
- Quick setup time
- Single trailer package – makes it easier to deploy and reach remote locations
- Eliminate crane lifts – no additional equipment is required in the field
- Auto leveling – eliminates manual cranking
- Minimize field connections –only 3 connections for fuel line, black start, and switchgear
The SMT60 offers a small footprint design, reduced maintenance costs, and increased reliability with the gas turbine as the main power source.
Power anytime, anywhere
Solar’s design is meant to be plug-and-play, with very few connections, making it faster to begin producing electricity. Speaker Jennifer Schumacher walked through the machinery specs and set-up needed to deploy the SMT60 on a customer compacted site.
Here are a few key questions that Jennifer addressed during the Q&A sessions:
What are the requirements for fuel cleanliness?
SMT60 is designed with an enhanced fuel system to operate on a wide variety of gases.
What is the typical setup time?
Less than 4 hours
Does Solar Turbines offer product support in the field?
The SMT60 mobile solution offers the same field support as any Solar product
Is there any technical training available?
Solar offers online classes covering all needs, from package layout to onsite installation.
Is the SMT60 available in 50 Hz for international markets?
Currently only available in 60 Hz, but Solar will have 50 Hz units available in 2022.
Does it also work on dual-fuel or only liquid gas?
The SMT60 dual fuel gas turbine can operate on gas or diesel fuel.
Apart from oilfield genset applications, the SMT60 can also be deployed as a mobile emergency backup generator – as seen recently in Houston, TX in the aftermath of Hurricane Nicholas. The SMT60’s single trailer design and rapid, easy, setup offers customers reliable solutions anywhere that mobile backup or emergency power is needed.
To watch this webinar, click the video above, or use this link: CLICK HERE
To review SMT60 product specifications, please use this link: CLICK HERE