Onboard Dynamics Blog

The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is numerically quite low at less than 2 parts per million. However, methane is widely viewed as a potent greenhouse gas because of its global warming potential which is approximately 28 times greater than CO₂ on a weight basis. (Some sources claim an even higher multiplier.) Furthermore, atmospheric methane concentration has been increasing in recent years, as seen in the graph below, which is largely attributed to the ever-increasing production and use of natural gas. Other methane sources, including natural ones like swamps and geologic vents, might be larger, but are not growing as fast and are harder to control and mitigate.

According to the US EPA, over half of the methane released to the atmosphere due to the production and use of natural gas originates in the production phase where methane is released, or vented, usually in combination with other produced gases. This venting frequently occurs at smaller, dispersed wells where it is not cost effective to gather and clean the produced gases. Such venting also is frequently associated with wells developed primarily to produce oil where produced gases (also called “associated gas”) are essentially a waste product.

Using an accounting approach different from the EPA, the industry group ONE Future calculates a methane intensity to essentially measure molecules into a pipeline compared to molecules out of a pipeline. The purpose of this approach, as opposed to the more macro approach of the EPA, is to allow individual companies to benchmark and track themselves to promote continuous, publicly accessible improvement. Both distribution and transmission/storage companies using this approach report methane intensity scores of better than 0.1% in recent years (i.e., less than 1% of molecules are “lost” to the atmosphere).

The focus of the pipeline industry is to reduce this loss to an absolute minimum. And to do so, requires zeroing in on all possible sources of these losses.

Methane emissions from pipelines can be generally placed in 3 categories:

• Fugitive Emissions
• Emissions From Incidents
• Emissions From Venting

The causes, remedies, and environmental rules and regulations for each of these are different.

Fugitive Emissions

These are methane emissions that result from normal, designed-in, pipeline operation. Examples include:

• Minor seepage around compressor rod packing as it wears.
  A near-term solution to this release is more frequent maintenance of such wear components. A more permanent solution is new compressor technology, such as hermetically sealed compressors.
• On/off operation of pneumatic valves.
  We normally think of pneumatically operated devices as running on pressurized air. But more generally, the term “pneumatic” can be applied to any device driven by any pressurized gas. In the case of the pipeline industry, pressurized natural gas is commonly present, so it is logical to use this convenient supply for pneumatic power. Unfortunately, such use necessarily results in the release of methane into the atmosphere as valves are opened and closed. A solution to such releases is replacement of pneumatic valves with electrically driven ones. Note that such substitution can carry the risk of reduced pipeline reliability as the system becomes more dependent on electricity supply.
• Microscopic seepage through pipeline walls due to indetectable, small cracks.
  All pipes are subject to small leaks, especially as they age. These can be so small that they are impossible to detect, and they can certainly be so small that it is not “cost effective” to repair them (perhaps, unless there are fines or fees). To account for leaks of this type, a so called “emission factor” is commonly used (for example, leaks per mile) based on industry averages. Individual pipeline operators can use detailed surveys of their own particular pipeline systems to apply for lower factors.

Emissions From Incidents

These emissions are due to accidents or equipment failure. The pipeline operator did not intend for these releases to happen and will generally repair as soon as possible, especially since these releases can involve large flow rates of escaping gas.  Pipeline operators are always striving to minimize incidents (e.g., “call before you dig” campaigns), so solutions usually are associated with safety and maintenance programs.

Emissions From Venting

Vented releases are those that result from intentional acts by the pipeline operator. Examples include:

• Venting a compressor housing for maintenance or repair
• Opening and closing pigging launchers and receivers
• Blowing down a pipeline for repair, expansion, or decommissioning

Among all types of emissions, vented emissions are the ones that our current GoVAC® products address. These emissions are also the ones that give the greatest “black eye” to operators since they seem to occur by choice and could thus be avoided. Through the products and services provided by Onboard Dynamics and similar companies, the solution to our industry’s “venting” problem is at hand.

Reducing methane emissions from natural gas pipelines is a significant focus for environmental efforts, as it contributes to climate change. Improved monitoring, maintenance, and the use of new technologies, such as our GoVAC® system, are essential for mitigating these emissions throughout the natural gas supply chain. The natural gas industry will play an important role towards the energy transition as we find long-term solutions to our energy needs.

Jeff Witwer, PHD, PE

Jeff is the Technical Advisor/Co-founder of Onboard Dynamics. He is an experienced entrepreneur, having founded or co-founded two companies in the energy and software industries before co-founding Onboard Dynamics.

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 

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

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.

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.

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. 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 3^rd 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>>