Pilot Program Increased ROI

Bakken oil production typically removes entrained gas which is either flared or captured. Captured gas is rich and contains significant liquids. Other challenges in the Bakken include temperature extremes from winter to summer, impacting materials and production methods as well as the accelerated pace of drilling and infrastructure buildout outpacing the ability to properly work out issues prior to startup.

Captured gas from each well site is gathered into a network of small gas pipelines and compressor stations. The gathering system consists of many miles of pipe and 150 reciprocating compressors located in remote, unmanned stations. These compressors move the gas miles away to a district gas plant where natural gas liquids (NGL) are removed for two purposes: sale of the liquids and drying the gas in preparation for transport through larger, interstate pipelines to large production facilities that provide natural gas, ethylene, and various petrochemicals. Shortly after startup, however, the compressor equipment was experiencing early failures from vibration and overheating, resulting in production losses and maintenance costs.