Oil and Gas Processing: a Primer I Acknowledgments and Disclaimer
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PI Processing COVER 6/18/04 12:17 PM Page 1 Pembina Oil & Gas A PRIMER Processing Environment & Energy in the North About the Pembina Institute The Pembina Institute is an independent programs. More information about the non-profit research, education and advocacy Pembina Institute is available at organization. It promotes environmental, social www.pembina.org or by contacting and economic sustainability through the development of practical solutions for The Pembina Institute businesses, governments, individuals and Box 7558 communities.The Pembina Institute provides Drayton Valley, AB policy research leadership on climate change, T7A 1S7 energy policy, green economics, renewable Tel: 780-542-6272 energy, and environmental governance, as well Fax: 780-542-6464 as extensive formal and public education E-mail: [email protected] About the Author / Chris Severson-Baker Chris Severson-Baker is Director of the opportunities to strengthen environmental Pembina Institute’s Energy Watch Program. He regulation, and encouraging industry to adopt graduated from the University of Alberta with a better practices. Chris has represented the BSc in Environmental and Conservation Science Pembina Institute on numerous provincial and in 1996, joining the Pembina Institute that same federal multi-stakeholder committees focussed About Pembina year. He has worked to reduce the impacts of on developing environmental management the oil and gas industry on the environment — policy for the oil and gas sector. providing recommendations to government on Oil and Gas Processing: A Primer i Acknowledgments and Disclaimer The Pembina Institute would like to recognize ■ Lewis Rifkind (Yukon Conservation Society) the staff who have directly contributed to the ■ Wayne Sawchuk completion of this series of primers, including (Chetwynd Environmental Society) Tom Marr-Laing for writing and for guidance, ■ Megan Christie (Yukon Fish and Wildlife Niki Wilson and Mary Griffiths for research and Management Board) writing, Dave Mussell for providing illustrations ■ Mac Hislop (Canadian Parks and Wilderness and images, Michael Benson for research Society – Yukon Chapter) support, former colleague Janet Sumner for ■ Jennifer Walker-Larsen graphic presentation, our senior editor (Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board) Randee Holmes for writing and editing, ■ Jody Snortland Alison MacAlpine and Janet Shorten for editing (Sahtu Renewable Resources Board) and Hal Retzer for assisting with research and ■ Petr Cizek (Ecology North) writing of early drafts of the documents as a ■ Adrian Paradis Pembina Institute volunteer. (Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board) The Pembina Institute would also like to thank ■ Robert Jenkins, Sarah Aho the numerous individuals working in industry, and George McCormick government and the environmental community (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) who took the time to review one or all of primers ■ Alisha Chauhan (Inuvialuit Game Council) and to provide comments and information. ■ Russ Nelson (Shell Canada Limited) Thank you also to the numerous behind-the- ■ Brian Heppelle (Environment Canada) scenes reviewers who provided comments by ■ Bruce Hanna and Pete Cott way of the primary contact people listed below: (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). ■ Peter Ewins and Celeste Booth The Pembina Institute is especially grateful (World Wildlife Fund) to the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, ■ Kevin O’Reilly, Clive Tesar and Mary McCreadie who provided a grant that made the research (Canadian Arctic Research Committee) and writing of this report possible. ■ Peter Millman (Devon Canada Corporation) The contents of this document are entirely the ■ Douglas Mead (Mead Environmental Services responsibility of the Pembina Institute and do (formerly Shell Canada Limited) not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ■ Doug Iverson (Encana) those acknowledged above. ■ Terry Forkheim (Anadarko Canada) ■ Mike Doyle (Canadian Association © Pembina Institute of Geophysical Contractors) for Appropriate Development. ■ Cynthia Pyc (BP Canada Energy Company) ISBN: 0-921719-49-3 Acknowledgements ii The Pembina Institute Contents About the Pembina Institute.....................................................................................................................i About the Primers .........................................................................................................................................3 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................5 What is Oil and Gas Processing?.............................................................................................................7 ❚ Gas Plant ............................................................................................................................................8 Environmental Impacts ............................................................................................................................18 ❚ Disturbance of the Land Surface............................................................................................18 ■ Wildlife ...............................................................................................................................19 ■ Permafrost ........................................................................................................................19 ■ Vegetation ........................................................................................................................19 ❚ Damage to Soil and Water........................................................................................................20 ■ Spills and Leaks...............................................................................................................20 ■ Waste ..................................................................................................................................20 ■ Water Use..........................................................................................................................20 ❚ Damage to Air Quality................................................................................................................21 ❚ Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................................................................24 of Contents Table ❚ There is still a lot we don’t know............................................................................................25 Using the Best Practices Available......................................................................................................26 ❚ Planning...........................................................................................................................................27 ■ Integrated Land Use Planning ..................................................................................27 ■ Limiting the Number of Processing Facilities......................................................27 ■ Local and Regional Air Quality Monitoring..........................................................28 ■ Managing Surface Water.............................................................................................29 ■ Groundwater Management.......................................................................................29 Oil and Gas Processing: A Primer 1 ❚ Selection, Handling and Storage of Materials ...................................................................30 ■ Storage Vessel Spill Prevention.................................................................................30 ■ Preventing Tank Sludge...............................................................................................30 ■ “Zero Drip” Policy............................................................................................................30 ❚ Minimizing Air Emissions..........................................................................................................31 ■ Acid Gas Injection..........................................................................................................31 ■ Sulphur Recovery...........................................................................................................31 ■ Reducing Flaring at Gas Plants .................................................................................32 ❚ Facility Flaring Decision Tree....................................................................................................34 ■ Remote Shut-down Capability of Gas Field.........................................................32 ■ Blowdowns and Depressuring..................................................................................35 ■ Benzene Emission Reductions — Glycol Dehydrators.....................................35 ■ Methane-controlled Pneumatic Devices...............................................................36 ■ Leak Detection and Repair.........................................................................................37 ■ Tank Vapour Control and Recovery.........................................................................38 ■ Dry Low-NOx Burners...................................................................................................39 ■ Industry Best Practice Commitment to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions ........................................................................................39 ■ Co-generation and Heat Integration......................................................................39