North Dakota Patent of the Month – September 2024
The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has developed a novel method for efficiently recycling gaseous hydrocarbons, aiming to reduce emissions and recover valuable energy resources often lost during oil production. This innovative approach addresses the common problem of “flare” or “vent” gases—rich in hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and butane—that are typically released during oil extraction and processing.
By utilizing a specialized oil-less compressor and a multi-stage separation process, EERC’s method captures these gases, compresses them, and then cools the mixture to convert it into liquid hydrocarbons. This liquid is then recycled back into the system, preventing waste and minimizing the environmental impact associated with venting or flaring.
One of the key innovations is the use of an oil-less compressor, which eliminates the need for regular oil changes, significantly reducing downtime and maintenance costs. This makes the process more economical and practical, especially for low-volume oil production sites, where conventional gas recovery technologies are often too expensive or inefficient to implement.
The system can be applied in a variety of environments, from well pads to large-scale oil production facilities, providing a flexible solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while capturing energy that would otherwise be lost. By converting waste gases into usable hydrocarbons, this method also helps operators reduce their carbon footprint and meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
EERC’s breakthrough offers a sustainable solution that not only captures energy but also contributes to cleaner, more efficient oil production, aligning with global efforts to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel extraction.
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