N. O. P. 37 H for Natural Gas Treatment Facilities from Natural Gas Discoveries
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Lerman Architects and Town Planners, Ltd. 120 Yigal Alon St., Tel Aviv 67443 Tel.: 03-6959893, Fax: 03-6960299 Ministry of Energy and Water Resources N. O. P. 37 H For Natural Gas Treatment Facilities From Natural Gas Discoveries Environmental Impact Survey Chapters C–E – Onshore Environment – Hagit Site June 2013 ETHOS – Architecture, Planning and Environment, Ltd. 5 Habanai St., Hod Hasharon 45319 ISRAEL www.ethos-group.co.il [email protected] Fax: 09-7404499 Tel.: 09-7883555 Abstract The National Outline Plan for Natural Gas Treatment Facilities from Natural Gas Discoveries – NOP 37/H – is a detailed national outline plan for planning facilities for treating natural gas from discoveries at sea and transferring it to the transmission system. The plan relates to existing and future discoveries. In accordance with preparation guidelines, the plan is enabling and flexible, and includes the possibility of applying a variety of natural gas treatment methods that combine a range of mixes for offshore and onshore treatment, in view of the fact that the plan is being promoted as an outline plan to accommodate all future offshore gas discoveries, such that they will be able to supply gas to the transmission system. This policy has been promoted and adopted by the National Board, and is reflected in its decisions. The final decision with regard to the method for developing and treating the gas will be based on the developers' development approach, and in accordance with the decision of the governing institutions by means of the Gas Authority. In the framework of this policy, and in accordance with the decisions of the National Board, the survey relates to a number of sites that differ in character and nature, divided into three parts: 1. A survey of two areas for onshore gas treatment facilities and the pipeline route from the boundary of the territorial waters to the facilities, and from the facilities to the shore. 2. Survey of the Meretz wastewater treatment plant site – an onshore treatment facility with pressure reduction at sea, including an onshore gas treatment facility, and a pipeline from the coastal entry point to the facility, and from the facility to the transmission system. 3. Survey of the Hagit site presented in this document – an onshore treatment facility with pressure reduction at sea, including an onshore gas treatment facility, and a pipeline from the coastal entry to the facility, and from it to the transmission system. The onshore gas treatment facility at the Hagit site essentially includes all types of possible onshore gas treatment (with pressure reduction at sea to 110 bars), with the intention of examining the maximum framework of impacts. This does not mean that the developer will necessarily present a similar plan, but the purpose is to examine the maximum possible impacts on land. In accordance with the decision of the National Board, the Hagit treatment array will include two possible routes to the gas transmission system from the marine environment: The northern route – which passes close to the strip of the existing INGL gas line (the Dor-Hagit line). The southern route – starting adjacent to the line of the existing Dor-Hagit pipeline to the south of the Ein Ayala Quarry, passing through an open area near the Shefaya C Quarry, and continuing in a general southeasterly direction then turning north again until it connects with the present INGL alignment north of Bat Shlomo. After examining the planning and environmental aspects as set forth at length in the beginning of Chapter C, it appears that the northern route has a certain preferability in terms of hydrological and design aspects in addition to the combining of infrastructures; nonetheless, during analysis at the detailed planning stage it appears that there is no fundamental difference from an ecological perspective. As such, the plan using the northern route is being advanced. The representative planning for the treatment facility was drawn up by PDI Co., engineering consultants for the plan, and includes the "Quantification of Emissions & Discharges" document attached as Appendix B, and which constitutes the basis for planning and assessing impacts in this document. The aim of Chapters C-E is to describe the actions arising from implementation of the proposed plan and to detail the assessed environmental impact from this implementation, and means of reducing them, including recommendations for the plan instructions. The response by the planning team to remarks from the Ministry of Environmental Protection on Chapters A-B of the survey are attached as Appendix J of this document. Chapter C - Description of Actions Resulting from Implementation of the Proposed Plan This chapter includes a review of the main components of the onshore treatment facility, and a description of the gas treatment process from the drilling well until the end of the gas treatment process – transferring the INGL onshore transmission system. The description of the treatment process and description of the facility will incorporate the basic assumptions regarding the facility's operation, characterization of its components, the operating regime, and remarks on hazardous materials, monitoring devices, energy sources, and auxiliary infrastructures. The information presented in this chapter is a summarized review of the engineering report on the onshore treatment facility and the engineering-operational report on the pipeline, which are presented in full in Appendices B and C. Below is a general description of the gas processing chain – The gas comes from the wellhead in raw form and must be treated before it can pass through the transmission system. Treatment of the gas depends on its characteristics gas: type and composition, the pressure at which it comes out, the percentage of hydrocarbons and quantity of gas condensate it contains, the percentage and composition of the water in it. The following is a general description of the treatment process from the wellhead until entry into the transmission system, based on the assumption that there is a high percentage of methane in the gas discoveries. The description also relates to the main elements that exist in most discoveries around the world: Separation of liquids from the raw gas (slug catcher facilities). Secondary separation in order to ensure that liquids do not cause damage to processes further along the processing chain (inlet gas separation). Reduce the pressure of the gas coming from the well, or raw gas compression when the gas in the reservoir starts to be depleted. Removal of steam from the gas flow (water dew-pointing) Removal of hydrocarbons that are liable to condense in liquid form in the pipeline (hydrocarbon dew-pointing) Removal of other substances found in the gas that are liable to be toxic. Diverting a small part (usually around 2%) of the gas flow for use as fuel in the facility itself (fuel gas). Sales gas metering and analysis. A system for the safe removal – in cases of a malfunction, maintenance and emergency only – of excess gas emissions by means of a ventilation pipe, with or without a flare (flare systems). Storage of condensate for marketing to refineries in a pipeline, or in trucks. Storage of antifreeze (MEG – usually glycol) for return to the wellhead in a designated pipeline. Chapter D – Details and Assessment of the Environmental Impacts This chapter deals with a description in principle of the potential environmental impacts of implementing the plan, and measures for reducing negative impacts. Since there is a lack of information affecting the planning of the treatment facility (such as the composition of the gas in the reservoir, and the planned technology), the review of the best available technological means (BAT – Best Available Technology) to reduce the impact on the environment and the examination of possible environmental impacts that are not included in this document will be drawn up at the building permit stage, in accordance with the principles described in the documents of the EMMP (which also relate to the BAT) and the ENVID, attached as Appendices G and I, drawn up by Royal Haskoning DHV. In this chapter, the impact of the facility is reviewed regarding the following aspects: Air quality – According to an examination of the emissions from the gas treatment facility performed using AERMOD and CALPUFF emissions dispersal calculation models, it can be stated that in terms of all the pollutants examined (particulate, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide), the impact of the facility in the plan area on the environment is relatively low. It is important to note that in a number of cases examined, methods of reduction that enable compliance with the TA Luft 2002 standards were taken into account. Additionally, when implementing the plan the implementing contractor will have to comply with these emission standards, or any other up-to-date emission standards accepted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Zoning, uses and activities – Throughout the design process efforts were made to choose the location of plan components such that the impact of the plan’s implementation on existing and approved uses and zoning would be kept to a minimum. Therefore, there are no restrictions on approved uses and zoning, rather there is increased use of warning measures in the relevant locations. The plan’s restrictions are primarily in agricultural areas (restricting the planting and growth of trees along the pipeline strip) and limitations on future zoning if they overlap the plan area. In the area planned for the treatment facility, a zoning change will be required regarding Plan MSH/43/HC, which is approved for agricultural zoning. Appearance – This chapter includes a visual-landscape analysis of the Hagit site. The analysis includes attention to the visibility as expected from more prominent sites near the project, the landscape effect resulting from construction of the facility, on both a macro level – at the regional level, and a micro level – concerning the visual characteristics of the facilities planned in the project area.