Installing Vapor Recovery Units to Reduce Methane Losses Lessons Learned from Natural Gas STAR Processors Technology Transfer Workshop Pioneer Natural Resources, Inc., Pioneer Natural Resources, Inc., Gas Processors Association and EPA’s Natural Gas STAR Program September 23, 2004

Page 2 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Vapor Recovery Units: Agenda p Methane Losses p Methane Recovery p Is Recovery Profitable? p Industry Experience p Discussion Questions

Page 3 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Sources of Methane Losses p Estimate 373 MMcf/yr methane lost from atmospheric condensate storage tanks in gathering stations p EPA/GTI study estimates the methane emissions from storage tanks in the processing sector to be 311 MMcf/yr EF from Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks , AF from EIA financial reporting system (FRS)

Page 4 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Types of Methane Losses p Flash losses - occur when condensate in pipeline systems enters tanks at atmospheric pressure p Working losses - occur when condensate levels in tanks change p Standing losses - occur with daily and seasonal temperature and barometric pressure variations

Page 5 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Methane Recovery p Vapor recovery units capture up to 95% of hydrocarbon vapors vented from tanks p Recovered vapors have higher Btu content than pipeline quality gas p Recovered vapors are more valuable than natural gas and have multiple uses u Re-injected into pipeline to recover NGLs u Used as on-site fuel

Page 6 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Types of Vapor Recovery Units p Conventional vapor recovery units (VRU) u Use rotary compressor to extract vapors out of atmospheric pressure storage tanks u Require electrical power or engine p Venturi ejector vapor recovery units (EVRU TM ) u Use Venturi jet ejector in place of rotary compressor u Do not contain any moving parts u Require source of high pressure gas and intermediate pressure system

Page 7 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Conventional Vapor Recovery Unit Condensate Stock Tank(s) Control Pilot Vent Line Back Pressure Valve Suction Scrubber Suction Line Condensate Return Bypass Valve Electric Control Panel Electric Driven Rotary Compressor Gas Sales Meter Run Gas Liquid Transfer Pump Check Valve Source: Evans & Nelson (1968) Sales

Page 8 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Venturi Jet Ejector* High-Pressure Motive Gas (~850 psig) Flow Safety Valve Pressure Indicator Temp Indicator PI TI PI (-0.05 to 0 psig) Low-Pressure Vent Gas from Tanks (0.10 to 0.30 psig) PI TI Discharge Gas (~40 psia) EVRU TM Suction Pressure *Patented by COMM Engineering

Page 9 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Vapor Recovery with Ejector Gas to 1000 psig LP Separator Oil Gas Compressor Ejector 5,000 Mcf/d Gas 5,000 Bbl/d Oil 900 Mcf/d Ratio Motive / Vent = 3 = 900/ Mcf/d Gas 40 psig 6,200 Mcf/d Stock Tank (19 Mcf/d Incr.fuel) 281 Mcf/d Net Recovery Note: Production application example.

Page 10 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Example Facility for EVRU TM p Oil production:5,000 Bbl/d, 30 Deg API p Gas production:5,000 Mcf/d, 1060 Btu/cf p Separator:50 psig, 100 o F p Storage tanks: relief p Gas compressor:Wauk7042GSI/3stgAriel p Suction pressure:40 psig p Discharge pressure:1000 psig p Measured tank vent:300 1,850 Btu/cf

Page 11 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Emissions Before EVRU TM CO 2 Equivalents p Engine exhaust: 3, Hp load p Tank vents: 14,543 Tons/yr p Total CO2 equivalents:18,493 Tons/yr p Fuel 9000 Btu/Hp-hr = 171 MMBtu/d p Gas sales:5,129 MMBtu/d p Gas value: $5/MMBtu

Page 12 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Emissions After EVRU TM CO 2 Equivalents pMotive gas required:900 Mcf/d pEngine exhaust:4, Hp load pTank vents:0 Tons/yr pFuel 9000 Btu/Hp-hr:190 MMBtu/d pTotal CO 2 equivalents:4,897 Tons/yr pReduction:13,596 Tons/yr (73.5%) pTotal CO 2 equivalents:4,897 Tons/yr pReduction:13,596 Tons/yr (73.5%) pGas sales:5,643 MMBtu/d pGas $5/MMBtu pIncome increase:$2,570/d = $77,100/mo pEVRU cost installed:$75,000 pInstalled cost per recovered unit of gas: $0.68/Mcf/yr pPayout:<1 month

Page 13 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Vapor Recovery Unit Decision Process IDENTIFY possible locations for VRUs QUANTIFY the volume of losses DETERMINE the value of recoverable losses DETERMINE the cost of a VRU project EVALUATE VRU project economics

Page 14 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Criteria for Vapor Recovery Unit Locations p Steady source and sufficient quantity of losses u Condensate tanks at gathering/ boosting stations u Pig trap liquids tanks p Outlet for recovered gas u Access to pipeline or on-site fuel p Tank batteries not subject to air regulations

Page 15 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Quantify Volume of Losses p Estimate losses from chart based on oil characteristics, pressure and temperature at each location (± 50%) p Estimate emissions using the E&P Tank Model (± 20%) p Measure losses using ultrasonic meter (± 5%) p Measure losses using recording manometer and orifice well tester (± 100%)

Page 16 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Estimated Volume of Tank Vapors Pressure of Vessel Dumping to Tank (Psig) Vapor Vented from Tanks- cf/Bbl - GOR Under 30° API 30° API to 39° API 40° API and Over Source: Natural Gas Star, Lessons Learned – Installing Vapor Recovery Units on Crude Oil Storage Tanks

Page 17 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Quantify Volume of Losses p E&P Tank Model u Computer software developed by API and GRI u Estimates flash, working and standing losses u Calculates losses using specific operating conditions for each tank u Provides composition of hydrocarbon losses

Page 18 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits What is the Recovered Gas Worth? p Value depends on Btu content of gas p Value depends on how gas is used u On-site fuel - valued in terms of fuel that is replaced u Natural gas pipeline - measured by the higher price for rich (higher Btu) gas u Gas processing plant - measured by value of NGLs and methane, which can be separated

Page 19 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Value of Recovered Gas Gross revenue per year = (Q x P x 365) + NGL Q = Rate of vapor recovery (Mcfd) P = Price of recovered natural gas NGL = Value of natural gas liquids

Page 20 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Cost of a VRU p Major cost items: u Capital equipment costs u Installation costs u Operating costs

Page 21 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Cost of a Conventional VRU

Page 22 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Value of Recovered NGLs

Page 23 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Is Recovery Profitable? p Economics for various sized conventional VRUs

Page 24 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Trade Offs Conventional VRU Ejector Fuel for electricity (Mcf/yr) 2,281_ Fuel (Mcf/yr) _6,935 Operating factor 70%100% MaintenanceHighLow Installed cost per recovered unit of gas ($/Mcf/yr) $1.00 $1.00$0.68 Payback (excl. maintenance) 3 to 27 months <1 month

Page 25 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Technology Comparison pMechanical VRU advantages u Gas recovery u Readily available p Mechanical VRU disadvantages u Maintenance costs u Operation costs u Lube oil contamination u ~ 70% runtime u Sizing/turndown pEVRU advantages u Gas recovery u Readily available u Simple technology u 100% runtime u Low maintenance/ operation /install costs u Sizing/turndown (100%) u Minimal space required (mount in pipe rack) p EVRU disadvantages u Need HP Motive Gas u Recompression of motive gas

Page 26 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Lessons Learned p Vapor recovery can yield generous returns when there are market outlets for recovered gas u Recovered high Btu gas or liquids have extra value u VRU technology can be highly cost-effective u EVRU TM technology has extra O&M savings, higher operating factor p Potential for reduced compliance costs can be considered when evaluating economics of VRU/EVRU TM

Page 27 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Lessons Learned (cont’d) p VRU should be sized for maximum volume expected from storage tanks (rule-of-thumb is to double daily average volume) p Rotary vane or screw type compressors recommended for VRUs where there is no source of high-pressure gas and/or no intermediate pressure system p EVRUs TM recommended where there is gas compressor with excess capacity

Page 28 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Case Study – Pioneer p Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. recycled vapors from 3 phase separators to the plant inlet u Methane emissions reduction = 3796 Mcf u Estimated cost incurred = $5,000 u Total value of gas saved = $11,388

Page 29 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Vapor Recovery Units p Profitable technology to reduce gas losses p Can help reduce regulatory requirements and costs p Additional value of NGLs further improves cost-effectiveness p Exemplifies profitable conservation

Page 30 Reducing Emissions, Increasing Efficiency, Maximizing Profits Discussion Questions p To what extent are you implementing this BMP? p How can this BMP be improved upon or altered for use in your operation(s)? p What is stopping you from implementing this technology (technological, economic, lack of information, focus, manpower, etc.)?