Onboard Dynamics

Unique, Patented Natural Gas Compression Technology for Driving Down Emissions

Jason Vosburgh

Matt Sievert to Present at the 2024 Western Regional Gas Conference

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Matt Sievert of Onboard Dynamics to Present at the 2024 Western Regional Gas Conference

Title: The Critical Role of Accurate Reporting in Mitigating Methane Emissions

Presented by Matt Sievert, Director of Business Development
Date: Wednesday, August 21st
Time: 1:30 to 2:15 pm
Location: Western Regional Gas Conference (WRGC) in Tempe, AZ

At the upcoming Western Regional Gas Conference (WRGC) in Tempe, Arizona, industry experts will gather to discuss the critical role of accurate reporting in mitigating methane emissions in natural gas pipeline operations. Matt Sievert, Director of Business Development, will shed light on the importance of precise measurement and reporting in the context of environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance.

The Imperative for Methane Emission Reduction

The pressure on natural gas pipeline owners and operators to reduce methane emissions has never been greater. With heightened public scrutiny, evolving regulations, and a growing focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, organizations are compelled to adopt measures that minimize methane releases into the atmosphere. This imperative has led to the adoption of various technologies aimed at capturing and recovering natural gas to reduce emissions during pipeline operations.

The Challenge of Accurate Reporting

While technologies for gas capture and recovery exist, not all solutions offer the capability to electronically track and measure these activities like the GoVAC® Pipeline Evacuation System. Accurate measurement and reporting of such activities are crucial for demonstrating compliance with regulations, meeting ESG goals, and potentially accessing economic benefits in the carbon credit marketplace.

The Role of Electronic Data Capture

Systems that electronically capture emissions data play a pivotal role in ensuring precise measurement and reporting. By eliminating manual processes prone to errors, these systems provide operators with verified project results and streamlined environmental reporting capabilities. The ability to receive third-party certification further enhances the credibility of environmental initiatives and facilitates compliance with regulatory requirements.

Securing Data Integrity

As companies navigate increasing public scrutiny and regulatory oversight, the need for secure data reporting becomes paramount. Control systems that communicate securely with the cloud enable remote monitoring and enhance data integrity. Verification and third-party certification processes help safeguard against unauthorized changes to emissions data, ensuring its accuracy, tamper-proof nature, and security.

Looking Ahead: Leveraging Technology for Environmental Accountability

In a landscape marked by growing environmental awareness and sustainability imperatives, the adoption of methane reduction tools with robust reporting features is essential. These tools not only help in documenting efforts to prevent methane emissions but also have the potential to generate tradable carbon credits in the carbon credit marketplace.

About the Presentation

Matt Sievert’s presentation at the WRGC promises to delve deeper into the critical role of accurate reporting in mitigating methane emissions. By exploring the intersection of technology, environmental accountability, and regulatory compliance, attendees will gain valuable insights into the future of sustainable natural gas pipeline operations.

As the industry continues to evolve, embracing technologies that ensure accurate reporting and data integrity will be key to advancing environmental stewardship and meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing regulatory landscape. Join us at the conference to be part of this important conversation and drive positive change in methane emission mitigation efforts.

Project Spotlight: Four GoVAC® FLEX Systems Used in a Single Project for Evacuation in British Columbia

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The GoVAC FLEX System in Canada

Overview:

A major utility company (the “Company”), servicing over a million customers across multiple communities in British Columbia (B.C.), is dedicated to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through investments in low-carbon energy solutions. Grounded in core values of safety, customer care, collaboration, respect, and progress, the Company is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.

This utility highlights their sustainability pillars as the foundation for their future, emphasizing environmental responsibility in all aspects of project planning and execution, including routine blowdown or pipeline evacuation operations.

The Challenge:

Given the Company’s extensive pipeline network and their sustainability goals and zero-release methane policy, a flexible solution capable of meeting the demands of both high-volume evacuation projects and smaller projects located in residential areas was required.

The Solution:

Onboard Dynamics’ GoVAC® FLEX System emerged as the top choice for this customer because of its versatility. In particular, the ability to employ a single unit for smaller projects as well as the option to aggregate multiple units for larger scale projects was advantageous. As a result, the Company opted to lease four (4) systems to meet their project requirements.

In addition to supplying the GoVAC® FLEX systems, Onboard Dynamics also provided user training which enabled the Company to operate the systems safely and efficiently with continual oversight. This expedited deployment and enabled better project planning for the Company.

Four GoVAC® FLEX Systems Project Scope:

Four GoVAC® FLEX systems drawing down a 20″ pipeline.

The project scope consisted of decommissioning a distribution line located beneath a freeway. This line encompassed pipes of various diameters ranging from 8 inches to 20 inches. The Company wanted to standardize the diameters of their pipelines which motivated the decommissioning of these segments to facilitate replacement with a uniform diameter. This strategic initiative aimed to enhance operational efficiency and bolster reliability for the Company’s customers, ensuring consistent service delivery across their pipeline network.


Given the challenging location of the project, the evacuation system chosen needed to be nimble enough so that it could be maneuvered into place yet efficient enough to cross-compress larger volumes of gas.

Onboard Dynamics deployed four GoVAC® FLEX systems in a single project.


For this specific project, four GoVAC® FLEX systems working in tandem successfully evacuated 1,174,482 standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas over a 16,733 ft long section. To achieve this, the units consumed 60,177 scf of natural gas as fuel. Despite this fuel consumption, the emissions generated by the system amounted to 7,221 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Considering the emissions generated by running the system, net emission reductions from capturing the natural gas with the GoVAC® FLEX System were greater than 99%. This demonstrates the efficiency of the GoVAC® FLEX System in evacuating natural gas while keeping its environmental impact relatively low as compared to common practices of venting or flaring gas from the pipe.

“I just want to say I am very impressed with your whole team with the support since delivery…”

The Company’s operations team underwent comprehensive hands-on training in preparation for operating the four GoVAC® FLEX systems. This training regimen comprised a full day of classroom instruction followed by a full day of field training. The team was divided into five groups of two individuals each, allowing for focused practice sessions encompassing system setup, operation, and “live” pipeline evacuation scenarios. Emphasizing practical, real-world applications, the training aimed to equip the team with the skills and confidence needed to effectively utilize the GoVAC® FLEX System in operational environments.


Environmental impact reports summarizing the project enabled the Company to measure their environmental initiatives. The environmental impact reporting features gave the Company accurate project results that they can use to measure their internal ESG goals as well as having accurate documented proof of their methane mitigation activities.

Environmental Impact Report:

  • Total Natural Gas Evacuated
    • 1,174,482 scf.
  • The Fuel Consumption by the GoVAC® System
    • 60,177 scf.
    • ~5% of the natural gas captured.
  • The GoVAC® System Emissions from the Project
    • 7,221.26 lbs. of CO2e
    • Approximately 5% of the total gas captured.
  • Total Evacuation Time
    • This is the total time that gas is moving through the system.
    • In this case, this value is the sum of the time dispersed across all four units.

Furthermore, remote monitoring supported by Onboard Dynamics’ leading telemetry and SCADA system provided the Company additional assurance on the status of the project in real-time.  In summary, this project not only showcased the efficiency of the GoVAC® FLEX systems but also underscored Onboard Dynamics’ dedication to its customers, prioritizing a client-centric approach to training and support throughout the entirety of the project.

By leveraging its innovative technologies and strategic collaborations, Onboard Dynamics continues to set new benchmarks for our customers in pipeline evacuations, Advancing Cleaner Energy For Our Environment.

Enbridge Purchases the First Canadian Compliant GoVAC® FLEX System

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Canadian Compliant GoVAC® FLEX System

The first Canadian Compliant GoVAC® FLEX system, developed and manufactured by Onboard Dynamics LLC, has been delivered to Enbridge Gas Inc. in Toronto, Canada. When taking a section of their distribution system out of service, they will be able to compress the natural gas and inject it into a nearby pipeline, or transfer it into a tube trailer when there isn’t a system nearby. This will save the gas and avoid venting to atmosphere. Since methane is significantly more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2, using the GoVAC® system will offer Enbridge an efficient way to significantly reduce their emissions from day-to-day operations.

“Enbridge has been using a legacy system, but the portability of how the GoVAC® FLEX system can be pulled by a standard pickup truck and the ability to inject natural gas into systems of up to 1000 PSI will provide Enbridge much more flexibility during pipeline operations.” Said Roddi Bassermann, Manager, Energy Transition and Telemetry, Enbridge Inc. “After road licensing and vendor training, we should be using the new system by the end of the month.”

the GoVAC® FLEX system in Ontario, Canada

Over the past couple of years, a group mainly from the Engineering and Operations teams at Enbridge, has worked together to choose an appropriate vendor. This required an independent assessment of the GoVAC® FLEX system to ensure that provincial requirements were met.

Onboard Dynamics provided Enbridge with hands-on training for the safe and effective use of the GoVAC® FLEX system in the field. Operator Training included pre-towing, post-towing, setup, use, demobilization, and common fault recovery scenarios. Training was  provided at an Enbridge Gate Station.

About Enbridge Inc.

At Enbridge, we safely connect millions of people to the energy they rely on every day, fueling quality of life through our North American natural gas, oil or renewable power networks and our growing European offshore wind portfolio. We’re investing in modern energy delivery infrastructure to sustain access to secure, affordable energy and building on two decades of experience in renewable energy to advance new technologies including wind and solar power, hydrogen, renewable natural gas and carbon capture and storage. We’re committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the energy we deliver, and to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Enbridge’s common shares trade under the symbol ENB on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges. To learn more, visit us at enbridge.com.

About Onboard Dynamics LLC.

The goal of Onboard Dynamics is to support the natural gas ecosystem in reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions safely and reliably through our innovative and practical commercial solutions. Our patented compression-based systems minimize methane and other GHG releases during pipeline operations and maintenance, mitigate GHG emissions from transportation vehicles, and capture methane that would otherwise be released to the atmosphere from other industrial operations. Our customers receive expanded environmental benefits and reduction in costs through purchasing, leasing, and/or receiving turn-key services from our natural gas-powered products.

Onboard Dynamics Selected for SHALE INSIGHT® 2023 Technology Showcase

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We’re pleased to announce that Onboard Dynamics was selected to present their pipeline evacuation technology in the 2023 SHALE INSIGHT® Conference. This leading conference in American shale energy brings together industry professionals from across the natural gas supply chain, bringing best-in-class technology solutions and innovative strategies designed to optimize shale energy production.

Onboard Dynamics was chosen to introduce their product, the GoVAC® MAX system, during the SHALE INSIGHT® Technology Showcase on September 27th, 2023. The Technology Showcase includes six companies that were chosen from a competitive field of entries to present their groundbreaking technologies and innovations. These companies’ services will directly address Appalachian Basin shale industry challenges, while benefiting the industry and its stakeholders. Onboard Dynamics’ CEO and Co-founder, Rita Hansen delivered the presentation during the showcase panel.

In addition the Technology Showcase, Onboard Dynamics was among the dozens of companies represented at the SHALE INSIGHT® Exhibit in booth #423.

The GoVAC® MAX – Innovative Pipeline Evacuation System 

GoVAC Pipeline Evacuation System Logo

During the Technology Showcase, Ms. Hansen introduced Onboard Dynamics’ GoVAC® MAX system, which utilizes cross compression technology for pipeline evacuation. The GoVAC® MAX system connects to a natural gas pipeline, draws it down to near-zero psig, and transfers the natural gas to an adjacent pipeline. The system utilizes the natural gas in the pipeline as its source of power and is based on an industrial V8 engine with half of the engine used for combustion and the other half for compression. The patented crosshead design eliminates side loads on the compression pistons, thereby promoting long system life. The GoVAC® MAX is designed to operate with a wide range of inlet pressures and delivers increased flow rates. To accomplish this flexibility, a novel stage-skipping design bypasses the first stage of compression and delivers higher pressures into the second stage of compression. Faster flow rates are achieved by designing for the maximum pressure normally found in a gas transmission line. The GoVAC® MAX system incorporates enhanced filtration that allows for lower quality gas streams where liquid drop out might be present which is often encountered in midstream and upstream applications. The system is also equipped with telematics capability with 2-way communications, enabling data capture and secure storage in the cloud, remote monitoring, and the ability to generate meaningful environmental and operational reports.

About SHALE INSIGHT® 2023 and the Technology Showcase

Onboard Dynamics Selected for SHALE INSIGHT® 2023 Technology Showcase

SHALE INSIGHT® 2023 offers participants unprecedented interaction with industry-leading CEOs, elected officials and thought leaders, all of whom play a critical role in crafting the public policy and technical landscape that defines shale gas development around the world. Insightful technical and public affairs sessions, national keynote addresses, and networking receptions will provide attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors unique access to the industry’s most influential leaders and innovators. 

The SHALE INSIGHT® 2023 12th annual Technology Showcase was held on September 27, 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm. Out of nearly twenty submissions, six companies were selected to present their technologies to the natural gas industry and its service providers. Each selected company delivered an 8-minute presentation followed by a 2-minute Q&A session. The SHALE INSIGHT® 2023, A Shale Coalition® Conference, was held from Sept. 26 – 28 in Erie, PA.

PG&E Chooses Onboard Dynamics to Participate in its Innovation Pitch Fest

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Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has chosen Onboard Dynamics to be among the 54 organizations invited to participate in its first-ever Innovation Pitch Fest. The event is an initiative focused on bridging the gap between today’s energy system and California’s electrified and decarbonized future. The new initiative features nearly 70 challenges and opportunities for R&D around six key themes – gas innovations, undergrounding, electric vehicles, integrated grid planning, wildfire innovations, and supply and load management.

Onboard Dynamics was chosen to present their product, the GoVAC® MAX system, in the gas innovations section. This innovative system addresses PG&E’s problem statement to reduce transmission pipeline blowdown methane emissions whereas current technologies to abate blowdown emissions are costly, resource intensive to implement, and require heavy equipment. The GoVAC® MAX system is a mobile, scalable and efficient cross-compression solution with unique automated data collection and reporting of captured and recovered natural gas.

Onboard Dynamics was one of the 54 companies selected to pitch their technology solutions.
Onboard Dynamics was one of the 54 companies selected to pitch their technology solutions.

The novel design of the GoVAC® MAX system

The GoVAC® MAX system is a self-contained natural gas capture and recovery solution with a novel integrated engine/compressor design making the system more portable and maneuverable than other natural gas-powered pipeline evacuation systems of comparable throughput. The system is built on patented compression technology that runs on a small portion of the natural gas that is being evacuated in the pipeline. Operating on natural gas reduces the emission profile to a minimum and removes the need for additional equipment and resources during natural gas capture and recovery projects. The system touts a small footprint making it easy to fit into challenging locations and is nimble enough to be pulled by a standard pickup making it highly maneuverable around a job site. With its novel patented stage skipping technology, it is robust enough to offer high flow rates and variable inlet/outlet pressure. Systems can also be pooled together when there is a need to scale for even larger projects.

The GoVAC® MAX control system provides automated data capture, remote monitoring and ensures safe and tamper-proof transmission, data storage and secure access.
The GoVAC® MAX control system provides automated data capture, remote monitoring and ensures safe and tamper-proof transmission, data storage and secure access.

The GoVAC® MAX control system provides automated data capture, remote monitoring and ensures safe and tamper-proof transmission, data storage and secure access. Accurate and validated environmental and operational reporting on key metrics are available to the operators both on site and remote and have the option of 3rd party certification. This digitized evacuation capability will enable PG&E to fulfill current and future regulations and environmental initiatives.

About the PG&E Innovation Pitch Fest

PG&E evaluated more than 600 applications to participate in Pitch Fest and selected just 54 organizations to participate. During the Pitch Fest, each organization had 15 minutes to present their respective solution to PG&E decision-makers. Successful pitches have the potential to lead to a range of follow-on engagements with PG&E, including but not limited to direct partnership and grant opportunities.

The Innovation Pitch Fest was held from Sept.12-14, in San Ramon, Calif.

Read the release here>>

Onboard Dynamics White Paper for the Pipeline Pigging and Integrity Management Conference

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This white paper was presented during the 2023 Pipeline Pigging and Integrity Management Conference.

Title:  Innovative Pipeline Evacuation Technologies for Reducing Methane Releases to the Environment During Pipeline Maintenance and Pigging Operations

Abstract:

Pipeline operators are showing a growing interest in adopting new technology solutions and operating practices to reduce methane releases during pipeline operations and maintenance. This increasing attention is focused on methane capture and recovery during routine pigging operations. The number of pigging operations, and the fact that they are usually conducted on a predictable schedule suggest that this source of methane release should be a prime target for operators seeking to improve their environmental profile.

This paper will provide an overview of technologies and operating practices that can be implemented to reduce methane releases during pigging operations. We will discuss technology features that are most important in determining project success including natural gas capture time, system set up time, the need for additional equipment and fuel supply, and consideration of equipment physical size. We will go over how these factors all impact the time and cost to capture natural gas. Also discussed is the importance of collecting and securing data to meet regulatory and auditing requirements.

Download the white paper here