Abstract
Flaring of associated gas from oil wells and the excess gas from gas-processing units and oil refineries is one of the most prominent producers of greenhouse gas emissions. Flaring, by definition, is a method used to burn unwanted flammable gas, which produces significant amounts of methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide. The petroleum industry adds millions of tons of CO2 annually into the atmosphere by flaring gas, which presents a serious risk due to the environmental and economic impacts associated with it. In light of the increasing awareness of this threat, the industry is investigating economical means to reduce the anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Oil production from the Bakken and Three Forks formations has significantly increased over the last ten years without commensurate augmentation of gas capture infrastructure, which, consequently, resulted in increased flaring of the associated gas. The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) has set rigorous regulations to reduce flaring. However, operating companies are experiencing challenges to meet NDIC gas capturing limit of 95%, which leads to oil production being curtailed. This paper presents an overview of the latest technologies implemented worldwide to reduce gas flaring and discusses their applicability as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Then, to evaluate North Dakota’s flaring situation, the amount of gas flaring within the recent years is provided. It is discussed that implementation of underground gas storage and methanol portable units may be cost-effective measures to meet the North Dakota gas-capturing objective. A successful implementation of gas recovery technologies can significantly reduce gas emissions and gain potential economic profit.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- NDIC:
-
The North Dakota industrial commission
- GOR:
-
Gas-to-oil ratio
- EOR:
-
Enhanced oil recovery
- CAPEX:
-
Capital expenditure
- OPEX:
-
Operating expenditure
- MMBtu:
-
Million British thermal unit
- GTW:
-
Gas-to-wire
- LNG:
-
Liquified natural gas
- ORC:
-
Organic rankine cycle
- Ppm:
-
Particle per million
- MM:
-
Million
- Bbl:
-
Barrel
References
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data, www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data (2021) (accessed October 2021)
Environmental Defense Fund, Methane: A Crucial Opportunity in the Climate Fight, www.edf.org/climate/methane-crucial-opportunity-climate-fight (2021) (accessed October 2021)
Ritchie, H.; Roser, M. Electricity Mix, Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata.org/electricity-mix (2021) (accessed October 2021)
McKinsey & Company, Global Energy Perspective 2021, www.mckinsey.com/industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/global-energy-perspective-2021 (2021) (accessed October 2021).
International Energy Agency. Pathway to Critical and Formidable Goal of Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 is Narrow but Brings Huge Benefits, According to IEA Special Report. www.iea.org/news/pathway-to-critical-and-formidable-goal-of-net-zero-emissions-by-2050-is-narrow-but-brings-huge-benefits (2021)
North Dakota Industrial Commission, Industrial Commission Provides Clarity to Gas Capture Percentage (2020)
Wilcox, A.: Flaring Issues, Solutions & Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, DE-FE0031691, (2019)
Saunier, S.; Bergauer, M.A.; Isakova, I.: Best Available Techniques Economically Achievable to Address Black Carbon from Gas Flaring: EU Action on Black Carbon in the Arctic Technical Report 3., pp. 47 (2019)
Rubaszek, M.; Uddin, G.S.: The role of underground storage in the dynamics of the us natural gas market: a threshold model analysis. Energy Econ. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2020.104713
Almeida, J.R.U.C.; De Almeida, E.L.F.; Torres, E.A.; Freires, F.G.M.: Economic value of underground natural gas storage for the Brazilian power sector. Energy Policy 2018(121), 488–497 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.07.005(accessedOctober
Confort, M.J.F.; Mothe, C.G.: Estimating the required underground natural gas storage capacity in Brazil from the gas industry characteristics of countries with gas storage facilities. J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 18, 120–130 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2014.02.004
Wang, X.; Economides, M.J.: Purposefully built underground natural gas storage. J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 9, 130–137 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2012.06.003
Eren, T.; Polat, C.: Natural gas underground storage and oil recovery with horizontal wells. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106753
Liu, W.; Jiang, D.; Chen, J.; Daemen, J.J.K.; Tang, K.; Wu, F.: Comprehensive feasibility study of two-well-horizontal caverns for natural gas storage in thinly-bedded salt rocks in China. Energy 143, 1006–1019 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.10.126
Mgbaja, U.M.; Enwere, N.: Reservoir characterization, simulation & estimation of storage capacity of depleted reservoirs in Niger Delta for underground natural gas storage. Paper presented at the SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/189058-MS. (2017)
Anyadiegwu, C. I.: Development of depleted oil reservoirs for simultaneous gas injection for underground natural gas storage and enhanced oil recovery in Nigeria. Paper presented at the SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition. Lagos, Nigeria. https://doi.org/10.2118/184270-MS (2016) (accessed October 2021)
Acocella, A.J.: System model of small- scale gas-to-methanol conversion by engine reformers, submitted for master thesis Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2015)
Banister, J.; Rumbold, S. A.: Compact gas-to-methanol process and its application to improved oil recovery. 2005 Heatric division of Meggitt (UK) Ltd (2005)
Pappas, D.K.; Borfecchia, E.; Dyballa, M.; Pankin, I.A.; Lomachenko, K.A.; Martini, A., et al.: Methane to methanol: structure-activity relationships for Cu-CHA. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 139, 14961–14975 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b06472
Dyballa, M.; Pappas, D.K.; Kvande, K.; Borfecchia, E.; Arstad, B.; Beato, P., et al.: On how copper mordenite properties govern the framework stability and activity in the methane-to- methanol conversion. ACS Catal. 9, 365–375 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.8b04437
Bjorck, C.E.; Dobson, P.D.; Pandhal, J.: Biotechnological conversion of methane to methanol: evaluation of progress and potential. AIMS Bioeng. 5(1), 1–38 (2018). https://doi.org/10.3934/bioeng.2018.1.1
Han, B.; Su, T.; Wu, H., et al.: Paraffin oil as a “methane vector” for rapid and high cell density cultivation of methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Appl. Biochem. Biotech. 83, 669–677 (2009)
Jiang, H.; Chen, Y.; Jiang, P., et al.: Methanotrophs: multifunctional bacteria with promising applications in environmental bioengineering. Biochem. Eng. J. 49, 277–288 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2010.01.003
Hakemian, A.S.; Rosenzweig, A.C.: The biochemistry of methane oxidation. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 76, 223–241 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.biochem.76.061505.175355
Devos, Y.; Maeseele, P.; Reheul, D., et al.: Ethics in the societal debate on genetically modified organisms: a (Re) quest for sense and sensibility. J Agr. Environ. Ethic. 21, 29–61 (2007)
Strong, P.J.; Xie, S.; Clarke, W.P.: Methane as a resource: can the methanotrophs add value? Environ. Sci. Technol. 49, 4001–4018 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1021/es504242n
Duan, C.; Luo, M.; Xing, X.: High-rate conversion of methane to methanol by methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Biores. Technol. 102, 7349–7353 (2011)
Pen, N.; Soussan, L.; Belleville, M.P., et al.: An innovative membrane bioreactor for methane biohydroxylation. Biores. / 174, 42–52 (2014)
Furuto, T.; Takeguchi, M.; Okura, I.: Semicontinuous methanol biosynthesis by methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. J. Mol. Catal. A-Chem. 144, 257–261 (1990)
Frank, J.; van Krimpen, S.H.; Verwiel, P.E., et al.: On the mechanism of inhibition of methanol dehydrogenase by cyclopropane-derived inhibitors. Eur. J. Biochem. 184, 187–195 (1989)
Takeguchi, M.; Furuto, T.; Sugimori, D., et al.: Optimization of methanol biosynthesis by methylosinus trichosporium OB3b: an approach to improve methanol accumulation. Appl. Biochem. Biotech. 68, 143–152 (1997)
Cox, J.M.; Day, D.J.; Anthony, C.: the interaction of methanol dehydrogenase and its electron acceptor, cytochrome cl in methylotrophic bacteria. BBA-Protein. Struct. M. 1119, 97–106 (1992)
Dales, S.L.; Anthony, C.: The interaction of methanol dehydrogenase and its cytochrome electron acceptor. Biochem. J. 312, 261–265 (1995)
Xin, J.Y.; Cui, J.R.; Niu, J.Z., et al.: Production of methanol from methane by methanotrophic bacteria. Biocatal. Biotransfor. 22, 225–229 (2009)
Whittenbury, R.; Phillips, K.C.; Wilkinson, J.F.: Enrichment, isolation and some properties of methane-utilizing bacteria. J. Gen. Microbiol. 61, 205–218 (1970)
Stark, D.; von Stockar, U.: In situ product removal (ISPR) in whole cell biotechnology during the last twenty years. Adv. Biochem. Eng/Biotechnol. 80, 149–175 (2003)
Mehta, P.K.; Ghose, T.K.; Mishra, S.: methanol biosynthesis by covalently immobilized cells of methylosinus trichosporium: batch and continuous studies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 37(551), 556 (1991)
Sugimori, D.; Takeguchi, M.; Okura, I.: Biocatalytic methanol production from methane with methylosinus trichosporium OB3b: an approach to improve methanol accumulation. Biotechnol. Lett. 17, 783–784 (1995)
Chen, X.; Li, Y.; Pan, X.; Cortie, D.; Huang, X.; Yi, Z.: Photocatalytic oxidation of methane over silver decorated zinc oxide nanocatalysts. Nat. Commun. 7, 1–8 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12273
Hu, D.; Ordomsky, V.V.; Khodakov, A.Y.: Major routes in the photocatalytic methane conversion into chemicals and fuels under mild conditions. Appl. Catal. B Environ. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.119913
Yu, X.; De Waele, V.; Lofberg, A.; Ordomsky, V.; Khodakov, A.Y.A.Y.: Selective hotocatalytic conversion of methane into carbon monoxide over zinc-heteropolyacid-titania nanocomposites. Nat. Commun. 10, 700 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08525-2
Williamson, D.L.; Zeltmann, E.W.: Use of natural gas for electricity generation. Paper presented at the 13th World Petroleum Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina (1991)
Byrom, S.; Bongers, G.; Boston, A.; Garnett, A.: Future Roles for Natural Gas in Decarbonising the Australian Electricity Supply within the NEM: Total System Costs are Key. Paper presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Virtual. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/202210-MS. (2020)
Mistry, L.; Wahid, F.; Fitch, P.: Gas to Wire or Gas to Shore: Evaluation of Transitional Clean Energy in Offshore UKCS. Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Virtual. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/201602-MS. (2020)
Watanabe, T.; Inoue, H.; Horitsugi, M.; Oya, S.: Gas to Wire System (GTW) for Developing “Small Gas Field” and Exploiting “Associated Gas,” Paper SPE-103746-MS presented at International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Beijing, China (2006)
Kiss, G.; Barckholtz, T.A.; Blanco, G.; Rodrigo, F.; Han, L.; O'Neill, B.; Rosen, J.; Sutton, C.R.; Davis, K.E.; Dobek, F.; Geary, T.; Ghezel-Ayagh, H.; Jolly, S.; Willman, C.: CO2 Capture From Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Generation Using Carbonate Fuel Cells. Paper presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/197377-MS. (2019)
Adolfo, D.; Pambour, K.; Brancucci, C.; Carcasci, C.: An integrated solution for planning and operating Power-To-Gas facilities in coupled gas and electricity networks. Paper presented at the PSIG Annual Meeting, Virtual (2021)
Federal Emergency Management Agency. Multi-Hazard Loss Estimation Methodology, Earthquake Model. Washington, D.C., USA: Federal Emergency Management Agency; (2003)
Poljansed, K.; Bono, F.; Gutierrez, E.: Seismic risk assessment of interdependent critical infrastructure systems: the case of european gas and electricity networks. Earthq. Eng. Struct. Dynam. 41(1), 61–79 (2012)
Comerio, M.C.: Estimating downtime in loss modeling. Earthq. Spectra. 22, 349 (2006)
Salimi, M.; Faramarzi, D.; Hosseinian, S.H.; Gharehpetian, G.B.: Replacement of natural gas with electricity to improve seismic service resilience: an application to domestic energy utilities in Iran. Energy (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117509
Ghorbani, B.; Javadi, Z.; Zendehboudi, S.; Amidpour, M.: Energy, exergy, and economic analyses of a new integrated system for generation of power and liquid fuels using liquefied natural gas regasification and solar collectors. Energy Convers. Manage. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112915
He, L.; Lu, A.; Zhang, J.; Geng, L.; Cai, Y.; Li, X.: Economic dispatch of multi-area integrated electricity and natural gas systems considering emission and hourly spinning reserve constraints. Int. J. Electr. Power Energy Syst. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2021.107177
Sedighnezhad, L.; Hosseini, S.A.; Esmaeilzadeh, F.; Mowla, D.: Experimental investigation of supercritical methane injection in oil fields on salt deposit formation by gas anti solvent process. J. Supercrit. Fluids 85, 110–115 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2013.10.013
Liu, K.; Song, C.; Subramani, V. (eds.): Hydrogen and syngas production and purification technologies. John Wiley & sons, NJ (2009)
Boretti, A.: Production of hydrogen for export from wind and solar energy, natural gas, and coal in Australia. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 45(7), 3899–3904 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.12.080
Iora, P.; Taher, M.A.A.; Chiesa, P.; Brandon, N.P.: A novel system for the production of pure hydrogen from natural gas based on solid oxide fuel cell-solid oxide electrolyzer. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 35(22), 12680–12687 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.07.078
Nguyen, D.D.; Ngo, S.I.; Lim, Y.-I.; Kim, W.; Lee, U.-D.; Seo, D.; Yoon, W.-L.: Optimal design of a sleeve-type steam methane reforming reactor for hydrogen production from natural gas. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 44(3), 1973–1987 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.11.188
Nago, S.I.; Lim, Y.; Kim, W.; Seo, D.J.; Yoon, W.L.: Computational fluid dynamics and experimental validation of a compact steam methane reformer for hydrogen production from natural gas. Appl. Energy 236, 340–353 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.11.075
Perdikaris, N.; Panopoulos, K.D.; Hofmann, P.; Spyrakis, S.; Kakaras, E.: Design and exergetic analysis of a novel carbon free tri-generation system for hydrogen, power and heat production from natural gas, based on combined solid oxide fuel and electrolyser cells. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 35(6), 2446–2456 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.07.084
Pena Lopez, J.A.; Somiari, I.; Vasilios, I.: Manousiouthakis, hydrogen/formic acid production from natural gas with zero carbon dioxide emissions. J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 49, 84–93 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2017.11.003
Petrescu, L.; Müller, C.R.; Cormos, C.-C.: Life cycle assessment of natural gas-based chemical looping for hydrogen production. Energy Procedia 63, 7408–7420 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.777
Xuan, G.; Liu, F.; Zhang, F.; Hu, Y.; Miao, J.; Yang, L.: Mechanism of improving the stability of activated carbon catalyst by trace H2S impurities in natural gas for hydrogen production from methane decomposition. Fuel (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120884
Morsy, M.H.: Modeling study on the production of hydrogen/syngas via partial oxidation using a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine fueled with natural gas. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 39(2), 1096–1104 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.10.160
Salkuyeh, Y.K.; Saville, B.A.; MacLean, H.L.: Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of hydrogen production from natural gas using current and emerging technologies. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 42(30), 18894–18909 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.05.219
Ting, L.H.; Man, L.H.; Wai Yee, N.G.; Yihan, J.U.; Koon Fung, L.A.M.: Techno-economic analysis of distributed hydrogen production from natural gas. Chin. J. Chem. Eng. 20(3), 489–496 (2012)
Szima, S.; Cormos, C.C.: Techno-economic assessment of flexible decarbonized hydrogen and power co-production based on natural gas dry reforming. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 44(60), 31712–31723 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.10.115
Chisalita, D.-A.; Cormos, C.-C.: Techno-economic assessment of hydrogen production processes based on various natural gas chemical looping systems with carbon capture. Energy 181, 331–344 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.05.179
Hamid, U.; Rauf, A.; Ahmed, U.; Shah, M.S.A.S.; Ahmad, N.: Techno-economic assessment of process integration models for boosting hydrogen production potential from coal and natural gas feedstocks. Fuel (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117111
Aoun, A.E.; Maougal, F.; Kabour, L.; Liao, T.; AbdallahElhadj, B.; Behaz, S.: Hydrate mitigation and flare reduction using intermittent Gas Lift in Hassi Messaoud, Algeria. Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, USA, September 2018. (2021) https://doi.org/10.2118/191542-MS (accessed October 2021)
North Dakota Pipeline Authority Annual report July 1, 2019–June 30, (2020)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Current State of and Issues Concerning Underground Natural Gas Storage, Staff Report, Docket No. AD04-11-000, (2004)
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Energy & Environmental Research Center at University of North Dakota for the great financial support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Aoun, A.E., Rasouli, V. & Khetib, Y. Assessment of Advanced Technologies to Capture Gas Flaring in North Dakota. Arab J Sci Eng 48, 16507–16525 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-07611-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-07611-4