Associated gas is now a valuable energy resource that offers significant benefits

Depending on volume, pressure, constituents and Btu value, associated oil-produced gases can have considerable value as a fuel for a clean-burning microturbine. For many oil-production operations, economical and high-quality microturbine electricity can provide all the power needed onsite to run pumps, blowers, compressors and lift systems. Excess electric generation can often be exported for profit to a nearby power consumer looking for an economical, reliable, and price-stable source of energy. And heat recovered from the microturbine can offset energy costs in the oil/water separation process or other field processes requiring heat.

Oil production facilities in regions with high energy costs can expect a rapid payback

The Ingersoll Rand microturbine provides economical, reliable and price-stable electric power to offset the unpredictable cost of utility power. The thermal energy produced by the microturbine can also provide significant energy-cost savings. In some regions, grants are available for new installations of highly efficient distributed-generation equipment. And producing combined electric and thermal energy may avoid penalties that are assessed if there is no heat recovery. The Ingersoll Rand easily surpasses current grant requirements with a combined efficiency of 70% or even greater.

One independent oil producer uses overhead vapor to fuel the microturbines that power 80% of the operation’s electrical load for lift systems and pumps, as well as compressors in the gas plant. At current savings projections, full payback is anticipated in less than two years of operation for each system.

Microturbine onsite energy systems benefit producers, the environment, and community

Oil-production operations are frequently under scrutiny from community groups and local regulators to eliminate methane emissions and noxious odors. The Ingersoll Rand onsite microturbine energy system helps oil producers gain community acceptance by accomplishing those emission objectives while simultaneously producing economical electric power and useful thermal energy.