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Category: Liquid Redox

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Posted on Elemental Sulfur

Convert Acid Gas into CCS Tax Credits and Eliminate Flaring

Acid gas, also known as amine overhead gas, is a blend of acidic gases including carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and a common byproduct of various industrial processes, including natural gas processing, refining and chemical production. These gases are considered “acidic” because they can dissolve in water to form acids, leading to a decrease in pH when released into the environment. These gases, known for their corrosive properties, pose significant risks to the environment, human health and industrial equipment if not properly managed.

Where Acid Gas Comes from – Amine Sweeting

In many industrial settings dealing with sour gas, sweetening processes are employed to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) using methods like amine scrubbing. Amine gas treating, or sweetening, is frequently used in high volume applications, such as natural gas processing plants and refineries. Amine sweetening systems, however, generates an acid gas stream that requires careful handling and disposal.

Traditional Acid Gas Disposal Methods (Pros/Cons)

Traditional methods of disposing of acid gas include flaring and injection into specialized Acid Gas Injection (AGI) wells.

Flares and Enclosed Combustors:

  • Pros: Flaring is simple and can use existing infrastructure.
  • Cons: Key drawbacks include the fact that flaring may not be a permitted use in some jurisdictions and burning acid gas produces harmful SO2 emissions.

Acid Gas Injection (AGI) Wells:

  • Pros: Can be safe and a permanent solution.
  • Cons: AGI may not be permitted in some jurisdictions, permitting may take 1-3 years, if at all. Additionally, it is expensive to get started and requires ongoing monitoring of the potential impact on groundwater and other long-term environmental concerns. AGI wells also present a potential single point of failure, increasing the risk of unplanned downtime.

Liquid Redox for Acid Gas Treating

Next generation Liquid Redox technology offers a revolutionary approach to acid gas treatment by utilizing a Reduction-Oxidation (Redox) chemical reaction. Acid gas containing H2S exits the Liquid Redox system sweet (without H2S) and the elemental sulfur is filtered out of the regenerated chemistry where it can be reused, further reducing costs. The sulfur can be used for organic food production. This process not only eliminates the need for flaring or AGI but also delivers pure CO2 for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

  • Pros: Eco-friendly, eliminate flaring, eliminate AGI, cost-effective, deliver pure CO2 for CCS or industrial use.
  • Cons: None.

READ MORE: Streamline’s Sulfur from H2S Receives Listing as an input for Organic Food Production

VALKYRIE® Acid Gas Treating Units – Leveraging the Power of Liquid Redox Technology

VALKYRIE Acid Gas Treating Units (AGTUs) harness reliable, proven next generation Liquid Redox technology to deliver an eco-friendly solution to disposing of acid gas generated from H2S sweetening processes.

VALKYRIE AGTUs deliver these benefits:

  • Seamlessly integrate with existing H2S removal processes.
  • Can operate from 0-30 psig.
  • Can handle extremely high H2S concentrations (more than 80%).
  • Offer little to no pressure drop across the unit.
  • Effectively eliminates all remaining H2S from the gas stream and delivers elemental sulfur.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

LEARN MORE: VALKYRIE® Gas Treating Technology

READ MORE: Streamline’s Sulfur from H2S Receives Listing as an input for Organic Food Production

CCS Benefits

VALKYRIE AGTUs using next generation Liquid Redox chemistry deliver a multitude of benefits to CCS efforts:

  • Eliminates flaring of acid gas and associated emissions.
  • Eliminates need for an Acid Gas Injection (AGI) well.
  • Delivers pure CO2 for multiple uses, including CCS.
  • Pure CO2 for CCS increases storage capacity and maximizes carbon credits (45Q tax credit) .
  • Qualify for clean energy tax credits.

LEARN MORE: 45Q Tax Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration

LEARN MORE: IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) Tax Credit

The VALKYRIE Acid Gas Treating Advantage

VALKYRIE stands out as a true green solution with its use of non-toxic, eco-friendly chemicals and renewable or low-impact resources. Its energy efficiency, reduced waste generation, and compliance with regulations make it a cost-effective and environmentally responsible choice for acid gas treatment.

Advantages of VALKYRIE AGTUs for acid gas treating:

  • A true green solution with non-toxic and eco-friendly chemicals
  • Renewable or low-impact resources
  • Energy efficiency
  • Reduced waste and generation of byproducts
  • No harmful byproducts
  • Recyclability or reusability
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Compliance with regulations

Summary

VALKYRIE liquid redox technology offers a sustainable and efficient solution for treating acid gas, mitigating environmental risks, and promoting carbon capture initiatives. By harnessing the power of chemistry, it not only addresses industrial challenges but also paves the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

Contact us today to learn more about Next Generation Liquid Redox H2S treating technology and determine if the VALKYRIE system is right for your operation.

About Streamline Innovations

Streamline Innovation’s vision is Eliminating Emissions Through Technology.  We help heavy industry around the world achieve environmental performance objectives, improve sustainability, and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

H2S is present in almost every industrial process in the world.  Our technology can be applied across industries, delivering a sustainable solution that eliminates H2S, the leading cause of acid rain, a deadly greenhouse gas dangerous for work and living environments.

Streamline believes that achieving the E (“Environmental”) in ESG requires data. Creating intelligent systems that operate effectively and efficiently without human intervention is critical to reducing emissions that harm the environment.   We integrate advanced data collection, process control, and analytics in our technologies to provide a total solution for customers.

We serve organizations in multiple sectors, including Energy/Oil & Gas, Biogas, Landfill Gas & Renewable Fuels, Municipal Wastewater and Industrial Air & Water.

Categories Elemental Sulfur, Liquid Redox, Talon Sulfide Elimination System, Valkyrie
Posted on Liquid Redox

Sweetening Sour Gas for Gas Lift Operations

Maintaining consistent production output can be a challenge as oil and gas reservoirs age. Over time, natural reservoir pressure diminishes, causing a decrease in production rates which impacts the economic viability of older wells and the value of proved reserves. When the natural drive of a well is no longer sufficient to bring liquids to the surface, artificial lift methods become indispensable. Among these methods, gas lift stands out as a cost-effective and efficient solution.

Gas lift is an artificial lift system where natural gas is injected into the well casing to assist in lifting liquids to the surface through the production tubing. Gas lift is employed when reservoir pressure declines, water cuts increase and gas-to-oil ratios (GORs) change over time. Gas lift systems provide operators with an effective and economical means of optimizing production in a wide range of well configurations, whether they are shallow or deep, vertical or horizontal.

Benefits of Gas Lift

Gas lift has several advantages that make it a preferred choice for artificial lift operations:

  1. Low Operating Costs: Gas lift systems often use the natural gas produced from the well as fuel for compressors used to inject gas back into the reservoir, commonly referred to as “lease use” gas. This usually results in lower operating costs compared to other artificial lift methods.
  2. Minimal Downhole Equipment: Unlike some other artificial lift systems, gas lift does not require the installation and maintenance of additional downhole equipment such as submersible pumps or rods. A downhole gas lift valve and compressor are typically all that is required. This simplicity translates to reduced capital outlays for equipment and maintenance expenses.
  3. Easier Maintenance: Gas lift systems have fewer moving parts than other artificial lift methods, leading to less wear and tear. There is no risk of a broken rod downhole, eliminating the need for a workover rig to fix it. This simplicity keeps repair costs relatively low.
  4. Ease of Replacement: When flow conditions change, the gas lift valve can be replaced cost-effectively without the need for a workover rig, minimizing downtime.

Sweet Gas Buyback

One challenge in gas lift operations arises when there isn’t enough natural gas produced at the well site for use in the system, or if the produced gas is contaminated with impurities like hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Gas contaminated with H2S, commonly referred to as sour gas, poses significant challenges to system integrity and human health, making it unsuitable for gas lift operations.

In these scenarios, operators often resort to purchasing “sweet gas,” usually from their midstream partner, to fulfill their gas lift requirements, a practice known as “sweet gas buyback.” Depending on the prevailing price of natural gas, however, sweet gas buyback may be prohibitively expensive.

Fuel Gas Conditioning – Dealing with H2S

As a highly corrosive and toxic gas, H2S must be effectively removed before it can be safely used in gas lift operations. Operators with sour gas operations can avoid the expense of buying back sweet gas by treating H2S on-site. This approach not only ensures a reliable source of gas for gas lift operations but can also lead to cost savings and environmental benefits.

In areas where midstream H2S treating capacity and sour takeaway is limited, on-site sour gas treatment can remove this constraint, providing the additional advantage of using the treated gas for gas lift. Even if adequate sour gas takeaway capacity exists, on-site H2S treatment reduces or can even eliminate the expense of sour gas takeaway.

Traditionally, sour gas has been treated using various methods, such as amine gas sweetening or scavengers. These methods, while somewhat effective, have drawbacks in terms of cost, environmental impact, and operational complexity.

READ MORE: Gas Sweetening | A Comparison Guide

Next Generation Liquid Redox (VALKYRIE®)

A promising solution for treating H2S in gas lift operations is the use of Next Generation Liquid Redox, which is the basis for our VALKYRIE H2S treating technology. This innovative approach offers several benefits over traditional methods:

  1. Reduced Expense of Sweet Gas Buyback: VALKYRIE technology enables on-site treatment of sour gas, reducing or eliminating the need for expensive sweet gas buyback.
  • Reduced Expenses Associated with Sour Gas Takeaway: Operators can reduce expenses related to sour gas takeaway paid to midstream partners, leading to significant cost savings.
  • Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Chemicals: VALKYRIE technology employs non-toxic and environmentally friendly chemicals, minimizing harm to the environment and ensuring the safety of workers.
  • Turnkey Solution: Streamline handles all chemicals, maintenance, operations, and sulfur removal, taking away what is traditionally an operations headache for our customers.  We do this with 99+% operational uptime.
  • No Harmful Byproducts: The VALKYRIE treatment process produces no harmful byproducts, further contributing to its environmental sustainability.
  • Recyclability or Reusability: Many VALKYRIE systems allow for the recycling or reuse of chemicals, reducing waste and enhancing cost-effectiveness.

Leading operators like Chevron and Franklin Mountain Energy have been using VALKYRIE technology for years for effective H2S removal.

LEARN MORE: VALKYRIE Technology for Gas Sweetening and H2S Removal

Summary

Gas lift is a valuable artificial lift method for optimizing production in oil and gas wells. It offers numerous benefits, including low operating costs, minimal downhole equipment requirements, ease of maintenance and versatility. However, in cases where sour gas is present the expense of buying back sweet gas can pose challenges.

The use of advanced sour gas treatment technologies like VALKYRIE units offer operators a green solution for sour gas sweetening that not only ensures a reliable source of gas for gas lift but also reduces costs, minimizes environmental impact and enhances safety. Embracing these innovative technologies can lead to more efficient and sustainable gas lift operations in the oil and gas industry.

Contact us today to learn more about Next Generation Liquid Redox H2S treating technology and determine if the VALKYRIE system is right for your operation.

Contact

Jacob Pratt
SVP – Sales
Streamline Innovations, Inc.
jacob.pratt@streamlineinnovations.com

About Streamline Innovations

Streamline Innovation’s vision is Eliminating Emissions Through Technology.  We help heavy industry around the world achieve environmental performance objectives, improve sustainability, and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

H2S is present in almost every industrial process in the world.  Our technology can be applied across industries, delivering a sustainable solution that eliminates H2S, the leading cause of acid rain, a deadly greenhouse gases dangerous for work and living environments.

Streamline believes that achieving the E (“Environmental”) in ESG requires data. Creating intelligent systems that operate effectively and efficiently without human intervention is critical to reducing emissions that harm the environment.   We integrate advanced data collection, process control, and analytics in our technologies to provide a total solution for customers.

We serve organizations in multiple sectors, including Energy/Oil & Gas, Biogas, Landfill Gas & Renewable Fuels, Municipal Wastewater and Industrial Air & Water.

Categories Liquid Redox, Permian Basin, Petrolium Engineering, Valkyrie
Posted on Chemicals & Refining

H2S Treating Methods – Comparing Triazine and Next Generation Liquid Redox

Treating natural gas streams for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a priority for Oil & Gas producers worldwide. In the United States, much of the associated gas produced from the strategically important producing regions in the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford trend in southern Texas contains high levels of H2S, making it “sour.”

These oil and gas producing regions are served by established infrastructure and the sour gas assets there play an important role in meeting the nation’s current and future energy needs.

But there is a problem with sour gas. Because H2S is highly corrosive to infrastructure and presents a threat to human health, most pipelines have established strict limits on H2S concentration requiring Oil & Gas operators to remove or otherwise destroy it. In our article Gas Treating – Processing Solutions for Multiple Industries, we reported that The University of Texas found that the interstate pipeline specifications for H2S range between 0.25 grains per 100 cubic feet to 1.0 grain.

Although flaring or combusting associated gas contaminated with H2S is one way to dispose of it, the practice produces harmful sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is a major contributor to acid rain and regulated by the Clean Air Act. Alternatives to flaring are to capture or destroy the H2S using chemical, biological, or mechanical processes that have different trade offs in terms of capital and operation expenses, and have significantly different waste streams. 

In this article we compare the two most common H2S Treatment strategies used by oil producers for treating H2S in the field: Scavenger and Next-Generation Liquid Redox.

H2S Scavengers

Using an H2S scavenger to treat sour gas is a common legacy method for “sweetening” sour gas by removing H2S from natural gas streams using a chemical reaction. A scavenger tower brings sour gas into contact with liquid or solid media, which captures the H2S.

Triazine is commonly used to treat H2S in natural gas streams. It is a clear to pale yellow liquid with a fishy smell. Because triazine cannot be used at full strength, it is usually mixed with other substances to bring the concentration down to field strengths ranging from 20-80%, depending on the application.

Triazine can be injected directly into gas streams or used in a contact tower (scavenger). H2S scavengers using contact towers are considered up to 80% efficient, as compared to only 40% efficiency for direct injection.

Triazine works by binding itself to the H2S molecule. The reaction is defined as one mole of triazine reacting with two moles of H2S to form dithiazine. This is a one-time, non-reversible chemical reaction.

In a liquid H2S scavenger using triazine, produced gas is fed into a tower vessel where it bubbles up through the liquid. As the H2S contacts the triazine in the treating tower, it is rendered harmless.

Because triazine scavenging is a non-regenerative process, triazine must be replaced periodically and the spent liquid must be disposed of.

Triazine H2S Treating Pros and Cons

The benefits of using triazine for treating H2S in gas streams include:

  • Minimal installation cost.
  • Can be cost effective, depending on gas flow rate.
  • Zero air emissions.
  • Widely available in most oil and gas producing regions.
  • Skid-based units can be mobilized from one location to another quickly and easily.

Downsides include:

  • Contact towers are typically only 80% efficient, direct injection only ~40% efficient.
  • Disposal of spent triazine can be problematic in some areas.
  • Non-regenerative process, meaning frequent media changes.
  • Often requires use of other chemicals to mitigate negative downstream effects.
  • Contact towers (bubble towers) can be operationally complex and require frequent attention.
  • Can be costly when treating gas with high concentrations of H2S and/or high gas flow rates.
  • Worker exposure to chemicals at the worksite, potential health and safety concerns.

Next Generation Liquid Redox for H2S Treating

The Liquid Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) process converts H2S into elemental sulfur and water vapor byproducts using chemistry (Reduction) that can be regenerated and used again with exposure to air (Oxidation).

Using a Next Generation Liquid Redox process, sour gas is directed into a treating vessel containing specialized chemistry and then exits the system sweet (without H2S) into a gas sales line. The elemental sulfur byproduct is filtered out of the liquid, and the chemistry is then regenerated with exposure to oxygen. The regenerated chemistry is then recirculated back into the treating vessel to perform the reaction again. The regenerative nature of the chemistry reduces media changes, disposal costs and reduces chemical handling requirements on the well site.

The VALKYRIE® H2S treating solution from Streamline Innovations utilizes relatively recent technological advances in automation control to create the “Next Generation Redox” system. The VALKYRIE system utilizes TALON® chemistry, our non-toxic, biodegradable Redox chemistry.

Focus on Triazine Disposal

As previously noted, there are several downsides to H2S scavengers using liquid triazine. Because the triazine-H2S reaction is non-regenerative, the spent chemical must be replaced periodically and disposed of.

Dithiazine is the byproduct of using triazine to remove H2S from oil and gas streams and has no secondary use. It is a liquid waste product that requires proper disposal, in saltwater disposal (SWD) wells along with produced water, if the SWD operator allows, or at a hazardous materials disposal facility.

Comparison – Triazine H2S Scavengers vs. Next Generation Redox

We compare H2S scavengers using liquid triazine with the latest generation of Liquid Redox.

Spent Media Disposal. Because treating H2S using liquid triazine or solid media involve one-time, non-regenerative chemical reactions, the spent triazine must be replenished and the liquid byproduct disposed of properly. Solid media must also be periodically changed and disposed of at a hazardous materials landfill. Frequency of chemical and media changeouts is a function of several factors, including gas flow rates, H2S concentration, scavenger vessel size and other variables.

Chemical Handling and Safety. Liquid triazine is typically transported in plastic totes and delivered to the well site or production pad. Field personnel can be exposed to triazine when moving totes around the well site, installing H2S scavenger equipment and maintaining contact towers and injection equipment.

Exposure to triazine can cause skin rashes, eye irritation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers triazines as possible human carcinogens.

Operating Cost. Triazine H2S scavengers are often more expensive than Next Generation Liquid Redox, especially for high levels of H2S, because spent triazine must be replaced more frequently and can become overwhelmed at high concentrations, while TALON chemistry is regenerated, reducing the frequency of chemistry changes and chemical handling.  

A Clear Advantage

The VALKYRIE Next Generation Liquid Redox system is the clear winner for treating high H2S sour gas when all the risks and costs are taken into account.

Benefits of the VALKRYIE gas treating system:

  • A green solution that converts H2S into the benign substances of water vapor and elemental sulfur.
  • Universal application for biogas, landfill gas, and oil and gas production.
  • Widest operating envelope of any H2S Treating method extending across the full spectrum of pressures, flow rates and H2S concentrations.
  • Treating to established specifications for sales pipelines, gas lift and fuel gas conditioning.
  • Flexibility of placement along the production stream whether at the anaerobic digester, at a landfill, wellhead, refinery, in a direct or tail gas treating configuration.
  • Easily adjusted for variation in gas flow and H2S concentrations.

We specialize in meeting the most stringent outlet specifications.

Contact us today to learn more about Next Generation Liquid Redox H2S treating technology and determine if the VALKYRIE system is right for your operation.

Categories Chemicals & Refining, Educational, Elemental Sulfur, Liquid Redox
Posted on Educational

Gas Treating Solutions for Oil & Gas – Reducing Emissions and Powering the Energy Transition

The Role of Natural Gas

The move towards a decarbonized global energy system, otherwise known as the Energy Transition, is underway. In response to the concerns of key stakeholders, including the institutional investment community and regulators, energy companies are adopting initiatives to reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gasses, methane and other substances.

An important part of the Energy Transition is increasing the use of renewable energy sources, typically wind and solar, which emit zero emissions. Although renewable sources today make up less than 10% of total energy consumption in the United States, their share of the overall energy supply is rising rapidly.

Variability, however, is a critical factor hindering the widespread deployment of renewable energy sources. Because wind turbines don’t turn in calm conditions and solar panels have seasonality, can be substantially compromised on cloudy days, and do not provide power at night, these sources are not enough for long-term sustainability and reliability of the grid.

Battery storage has emerged as one solution for solving the problem of variability in renewable electricity production. Numerous battery storage projects are underway to provide long-term storage of electricity generated by renewables during ideal conditions (e.g., a bright sunny day for solar panels), so it can be supplied to the grid during peak demand.

Even considering battery storage, the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) forecasts that renewable energy will provide only 20% of total energy supply by 2050. Meaning, the Energy Transition, if it is to be successful, cannot rely completely on renewable energy.

Increasing Gas Consumption Driving Emissions Lower

Coal-fired power plants are major emitters of Greenhouse Gasses (GHG), primarily CO2. As a result, coal-fired plants are being phased out and being replaced by natural gas fired plants. Coal-to-gas switching is a major factor driving GHG emissions lower in the U.S.

EIA reports that emissions of CO2 have declined substantially, primarily because of power plants switching to natural gas away from coal fired power plants. Further, EIA expects adoption of natural gas for power generation to increase through 2050 as it displaces coal as a primary feedstock.

Whether natural gas is produced from geologic sources or captured from biogas operations or landfills, it burns cleaner than coal, making gas a vital component of a successful Energy Transition. But where will it come from?

The Howling Wolfcamp in the Permian Basin!

As we noted in our article Gas Treating – Processing Solutions for Multiple Industries, natural gas is expected to play a foundational role in meeting future energy consumption. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) forecasts that U.S. natural gas consumption will grow by almost 25% through 2050 and maintain the second-largest market share overall.

In the EIA’s March 2022 update, the agency provided further detail on where the growth in geologic natural gas supply is expected to come from:

  • More than half of the growth in U.S. natural gas production will be sourced from oil formations, known as associated gas.
  • The largest increase in production of associated gas is in the Wolfcamp tight oil shale formation of the Permian Basin in the U.S. Southwest.
  • The proximity of the Permian Basin in general, and the Wolfcamp formation more specifically, to LNG export terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana has encouraged production growth in this region.

The Permian Basin itself is the most active oil drilling region in the U.S. As of January 27, 2023, the Baker Hughes Rig Count reported 357 rigs were working in the Permian Basin, nearly half of all working rigs in the U.S. The reason is simple – the Permian is a prolific world-class oil and gas resource.

Demand for U.S. gas exports, namely liquefied natural gas (LNG), to Europe and other developed regions lacking local energy resources, is an important driver of natural gas production growth from the Permian, including the Wolfcamp and other formations in the Permian Basin.  The nearby Eagle Ford Shale contributes significantly to the availability of gas for LNG exports.

The Sour Gas Treating Challenge

One of the challenges for oil and gas operators in the Permian Basin is gas treating for hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Much of the associated gas produced from the Permian Basin in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico and the Eagle Ford trend in southern Texas generally contains high levels of H2S, making it “sour.”

Since H2S presents a significant threat to infrastructure integrity, most pipelines have stringent limits for H2S concentration that require producers to treat sour gas to remove or destroy it. We provide more detail on natural gas pipeline gas specifications in our article Gas Treating – Processing Solutions for Multiple Industries.

Sour gas assets, typically located in established oil and gas producing regions equipped with infrastructure connecting them to national and international markets, have a critical role to play in meeting the nation’s energy needs and providing energy security. Gas treating solutions are required to unlock the value of these sour gas resources so they can be transported via pipeline, instead of burned or flared, which produces harmful sulfur dioxide (SO2).

In our article, Gas Sweetening, Sour Gas Treatment Strategies by Volume, we identified the three primary categories of traditional gas treating methods for removing H2S from associated gas, but they have numerous downsides, including:

  • Create negative downstream processing effects.
  • Require the use of chemicals that can be expensive and present a safety risk.
  • Require the disposal of contaminated media, creating environmental and safety risks.
  • Operational complexity, requiring frequent oversight on location and problem solving.

A Gas Treating Innovation – Liquid Redox

There is a proven, green solution for H2S gas treating not plagued by the downsides of traditional methods – Liquid Redox. The first generation of Liquid Redox enjoyed some mixed success treating H2S, but it was not reliable enough for large-scale applications. The next generation of Liquid-Redox gas treating for H2S, however, is a different story.

VALKRYIE® Liquid Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) technology from Streamline Innovations is based on new, updated chemistry and state-of-the-art process automation to reliably convert H2S into benign byproducts including elemental sulfur using chemistry (Reduction) that can be regenerated and be used again by exposure to oxygen (Oxidation).

The gas (i.e., Methane, CO2, other process gases) or air containing the H2S exits the system sweet (i.e., without H2S) and the elemental sulfur is filtered from the regenerated chemistry.  The chemistry is then recirculated to perform the reaction again and the sulfur is collected in a container available for use or disposal.

The Streamline VALKYRIE H2S removal system is the next generation of Liquid Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) to cost-efficiently help oil and gas operators unlock the value of sour gas resources.

The VALKYRIE system utilizes TALON® chemistry, our non-toxic, biodegradable Redox chemistry. In combination with our advanced automation and control technology, Streamline has created “The Next Generation Redox” system.

Benefits of the VALKRYIE gas treating system:

  • A green solution that converts H2S into benign substances including water and elemental sulfur.
  • Universal application for biogas, landfill gas and oil and gas production.
  • Widest operating envelope of any H2S gas treating method extending across the full spectrum of pressures, flow rates and H2S concentrations.
  • Treating to established specifications for sales pipelines, gas lift and fuel gas.
  • Flexibility of placement along the production stream whether at the anaerobic digester, at a landfill, wellhead, refinery, in a direct or tail gas treating configuration.
  • Meets the most stringent outlet specifications.

VALKYRIE gas treating units have been operating reliably for oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin and elsewhere, including Chevron Corporation and Franklin Mountain Energy among others.

Citations

EIA: Natural gas explained, Where our natural gas comes from

EIA expects U.S. natural gas production to rise as demand for exports grow

EIA: Annual Energy Outlook 2022

University of Texas Interstate Natural Gas – Quality Specifications & Interchangeability

National Energy Technology Laboratory: Reservoir Simulation of Enhanced Tight Oil Recovery: Wolfcamp Shale/Midland Basin

Categories Educational, Elemental Sulfur, Liquid Redox, Valkyrie
Posted on Educational

Gas Treating Solutions for Oil & Gas

The Role of Natural Gas

As we noted in our blog article Gas Treating – Processing Solutions for Multiple Industries, natural gas is expected to play a critical role in fulfilling future energy needs. The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) forecasts that natural gas consumption will keep growing through 2050, maintaining the second-largest market share overall.

Coal-to-Gas Switching Driving Emissions Reduction

One of the major factors driving the forecasted increase in natural gas consumption is coal-to-gas switching. As coal-fired power plants are phased out, natural gas fired plants are picking up the slack.

EIA reports that emissions of CO2, a primary Greenhouse Gas (GHG) have declined substantially, primarily because of power generation switching to natural gas away from coal fired power plants. Further, EIA expects adoption of natural gas for power generation to increase through 2050 as it displaces coal as a primary feedstock.

Geologic Natural Gas Still Dominant

Although Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production is increasing quickly as we noted in our article Gas Treating Solutions for Renewable Natural Gas, the vast majority of natural gas production in the U.S. is sourced from oil and gas wells, otherwise known as geologic natural gas. The Argonne National Laboratory estimated total RNG production capacity in the U.S. at 3% of total natural gas consumption in America. That means geologic natural gas will continue play the most essential role in meeting future energy demand.

The chart below illustrates where geologic natural gas production is sourced from. Production from shale natural gas resource plays is driving the increase.

EIA chart - Natural gas Projection by Type

Why Does Sour Gas Need to be Treated?

The composition of geologic natural gas production varies widely between different regions in the United States. “Dry” natural gas produced from the Marcellus shale in the Northeast consists almost entirely of methane with very little contaminants and can be produced directly into commercial pipelines with very little or no treating.

In contrast, associated gas produced from the Permian Basin in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico and the Eagle Ford trend in southern Texas generally contains high levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and CO2, making it “sour.”

Because H2S presents a significant threat to infrastructure integrity, most pipelines have stringent limits on H2S concentration that require producers to treat sour gas to remove or destroy the H2S. We provide more detail on natural gas pipeline gas specifications in our article Gas Treating – Processing Solutions for Multiple Industries.

Sour gas assets, typically located in established oil and gas producing regions equipped with infrastructure connecting them to national markets, have a critical role to play in meeting the nation’s energy needs and providing energy security. Gas treating solutions are required to unlock the value of these sour gas resources and sell the energy commercially into a pipeline.

Traditional Gas Treating Methods for Oil & Gas

In our article, Gas Sweetening, Sour Gas Treatment Strategies by Volume, we identified three primary categories of gas treating to remove H2S produced from oil and gas wells:

  • Scavengers and Adsorbents
  • Catalytic reactions
  • Mechanical destruction or Injection

These conventional H2S treatment methods are plagued with numerous downsides, including:

  • Create negative downstream processing effects
  • Require the use of chemicals that can be expensive and present a safety risk
  • Require the disposal of contaminated media, creating environmental and safety risks
  • Operational complexity, requiring frequent oversight on location and problem solving

Gas Treating Innovation – Liquid Redox

An innovative, proven solution for H2S gas treating is the current generation of  Liquid Redox. Liquid Redox has been around a while with mixed success.  The Streamline Valkyrie® Liquid Redox  (Reduction-Oxidation), with upgraded chemistry and automation, converts H2S into benign byproducts including elemental sulfur using chemistry (Reduction) that can be regenerated and be used again by exposure to oxygen (Oxidation).

The gas (i.e., Methane, CO2, other process gases) or air containing the H2S exits the system sweet (without H2S) and the elemental sulfur is filtered from the regenerated chemistry where the chemistry is recirculated to perform the reaction again and the sulfur is collected in a container available for reuse or disposal.

Our VALKYRIE H2S removal system uses this cost-efficient Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) process to help oil and gas operators unlock the value of sour gas resources.

The VALKYRIE system utilizes TALON® chemistry, our non-toxic, biodegradable Redox chemistry. In combination with our advanced automation and control technology, we have created “The Next Generation Redox” system.

Benefits of the VALKRYIE gas treating system:

  • A green solution that converts H2S into benign substances including water and elemental sulfur
  • Universal application for biogas, landfill gas and oil and gas production
  • Widest operating envelope of any H2S Treating method extending across the full spectrum of pressures, flow rates and H2S concentrations
  • Treating to established specifications for sales pipelines, gas lift and fuel gas
  • Flexibility of placement along the production stream whether at the anaerobic digester, at a landfill, wellhead, refinery, in a direct or tail gas treating configuration
  • We specialize in meeting the most stringent outlet specifications.

VALKYRIE gas treating units have been operating reliably for oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin and elsewhere, including Chevron Corporation and Franklin Mountain Energy among others.

Citations

EIA: Natural gas explained, Where our natural gas comes from

EIA: Annual Energy Outlook 2022

University of Texas Interstate Natural Gas – Quality Specifications & Interchangeability

Categories Educational, Liquid Redox, Valkyrie
Posted on Educational

Gas Treating Solutions for Renewable Natural Gas

The Role of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is poised to play an essential role in helping provide reliable energy to a growing world population while reducing emissions of methane and other substances that cause climate change.

The World Bank forecasts solid waste will increase nearly 70% by 2050, as the world population grows. Landfills are significant sources of methane emissions. An article in Science Advances describes using satellite imagery and analysis to estimate that landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions globally, trailing oil & gas systems and agriculture.

The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) notes, “Because RNG captures emissions from society’s waste streams and redeems its energy value, it has the lowest lifecycle carbon intensity (CI) of any clean energy source available today. RNG helps decarbonize energy and combats climate change.”

RNG is not just about landfills, it is potentially about all organic wastes.  For example, agricultural operations are the second largest source of methane emissions. According to U.S. Dairy, there are approximately 29,000 dairy farms in the United States, supplying humans with nutrient-dense milk and other dairy products. Cows stand at the top of the dairy product stream providing the milk supply, but their manure is a significant source of methane emissions. Collecting the manure into Anaerobic Digesters and capturing the methane it produces as it breaks down creates a potentially lucrative source of biogas.

Simply put, RNG whether it is sourced from landfills or agricultural operations is a win-win for humanity and the environment.

The Problem with Selling Biogas and Landfill Gas

Biogas and landfill gas in their raw states have some of the same problems that affect geologic natural gas produced from oil and gas wells – these raw gas streams typically contain impurities at levels that often exceed pipeline specification. Most commercial pipelines have specifications for contaminants, including oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and other substances, to protect infrastructure and maintain safety.

Before biogas and landfill gas can be added to the gas grid, it must be upgraded or purified into RNG by removing carbon dioxide and other contaminants such as H2S, water, oxygen, and siloxanes to meet pipeline specifications. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the most common contaminants of gas sourced from Anaerobic Digesters and Landfills, however, H2S is highly corrosive to metal pipelines, valves, and other equipment. It is critical to keep H2S out of the system to avoid the risk of a catastrophic failure.

As we noted in our article Gas Treating – Processing Solutions for Multiple Industries, The University of Texas found that the interstate pipeline specifications for H2S range between 0.25 grains per 100 cubic feet to 1.0 grains. Natural gas producers must take steps to decontaminate, purify and/or otherwise upgrade their produced gas to meet pipeline specifications.

Gas Treating for Upgrading to RNG

In our article, Gas Sweetening, Sour Gas Treatment Strategies by Volume, we identified the three primary categories of gas treating to remove H2S from landfill gas, biogas and natural gas produced from oil and gas wells:

  • Scavengers and Adsorbents
  • Catalytic reactions
  • Mechanical destruction or Injection into disposal wells

Conventional H2S treatment methods, including scavengers, adsorbents and catalytic reactions are plagued with a variety of downsides:

  • Create negative downstream processing effects
  • Require the use of chemicals that can be expensive and present a safety risk
  • Require the disposal of contaminated media, creating environmental and safety risks
  • Operational complexity, requiring frequent oversight on location and problem solving

Liquid Redox Solution for Gas Treating

In our VALKYRIE™ H2S removal system, we have commercialized a Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) process for converting H2S into elemental sulfur using chemistry (Reduction) that can be regenerated and be used again by exposure to air (Oxidation).

The gas (i.e., Methane, CO2, other process gases) containing the H2S exits the system sweet (without H2S) and the elemental sulfur is filtered from the regenerated chemistry where the chemistry is recirculated to perform the reaction again and the sulfur is collected in a container available for reuse or disposal.

The VALKYRIE system utilizes TALON® chemistry, our non-toxic, biodegradable Redox chemistry. In combination with our advanced automation and control technology, we have created “The Next Generation Redox” system.

Benefits of the VALKRYIE gas treating system:

  • A green solution that converts H2S into benign substances including water and elemental sulfur
  • Universal application for biogas, landfill gas and oil and gas production
  • Widest operating envelope of any H2S Treating method extending across the full spectrum of pressures, flow rates and H2S concentrations
  • Treating to established specifications for sales pipelines, gas lift and fuel gas
  • Flexibility of placement along the production stream whether at the anaerobic digester, at a landfill, wellhead, refinery, in a direct or tail gas treating configuration
  • 100% turndown

We specialize in meeting the most stringent outlet specifications.

Citations

World Bank press release, September 20, 2018

EPA Livestock Anaerobic Digester Database

Physics.org, Satellite data finds landfills are methane ‘super emitters’ 

U.S. Dairy, How Dairy Farmers Are Reducing Methane And Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Categories Educational, Liquid Redox, RNG
Posted on Educational

Gas Treating – Processing Solutions for Multiple Industries

The Importance of Natural Gas

Every realistic forecast of energy demand recognizes the critical role of natural gas in fulfilling future energy needs. The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) forecasts that natural gas consumption will keep growing through 2050, maintaining the second-largest market share overall.

In the EIA Reference case (base case charts referenced above), the industrial sector has the largest share of natural gas consumption, starting in the early 2020s, driven by greater use of natural gas as a feedstock in the chemical industries and by increased heat-and-power consumption across multiple industries.

Where Does Natural Gas Come From?

Natural gas most commonly is produced from oil and gas wells. The consistency of the produced gas varies widely in North America, based on the characteristics of the oil and gas reservoir from which it was produced. More recently, however, gas production from sources other than the oil and gas industry are becoming more prominent.

  • Oil and gas. “Natural gas,” as it is most commonly thought of is produced from oil and gas wells.
  • Biogas. Produced from agricultural operations or other sources of organic wastes using anaerobic digesters to convert waste organic materials into methane and other gasses are a growing source of “natural” gas.
  • Landfill gas. Landfills are often prolific sources of methane production.  Landfills have long been gathering gas to prevent leakage, but more and more they are producing gas commercially.
  • Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). Before biogas and landfill gas can be added to the gas grid, it must be upgraded or purified into RNG by removing carbon dioxide and other contaminants t  such as H2S, water, oxygen, and siloxanes to meet pipeline specifications.

Why Does Natural Gas Need to be Treated?

Natural gas produced from oil and gas wells, landfills or agricultural operations (biogas) almost always contains contaminants that must be removed before it can be sold commercially into a pipeline.

Midstream operators, namely pipeline transportation companies, have stringent specifications for natural gas quality to protect infrastructure and maintain safety. H2S is highly corrosive to metal pipelines, valves and other equipment. It is critical to keep H2S out of the system to avoid the risk of a catastrophic failure.

The University of Texas found that the pipeline specifications for H2S, for example, for interstate pipelines range between 0.25 grains per 100 cubic feet to 1.0 grains. The same study also discovered that the typical oxygen content specification ranged between 0.2% to 1.0% by volume. Natural gas producers must take steps to decontaminate, purify and/or otherwise upgrade their produced gas to meet pipeline specifications.

Gas Treating for Industry

Given the importance of natural gas to meeting future energy demand and reducing emissions of Greenhouse gasses, gas treating to remove contaminants becomes a critical problem to solve.

In our article, Gas Sweetening, Sour Gas Treatment Strategies by Volume, we covered how natural gas, biogas, and water that contain sulfur compounds or ammonia are considered “sour.” In low concentrations, these contaminants can cause maleficent odors, and in higher concentrations they can create serious hazards to both infrastructure and human health.

We identified the three primary categories of gas treating to remove H2S from landfill gas, biogas and natural gas produced from oil and gas wells:

  • Scavengers and Adsorbents
  • Catalytic reactions
  • Mechanical destruction or Injection

Conventional H2S treatment methods, including scavengers, adsorbents and catalytic reactions are plagued with a variety of downsides:

  • Create negative downstream processing effects
  • Require the use of chemicals that can be expensive and present a safety risk
  • Require the disposal of contaminated media, creating environmental and safety risks
  • Operational complexity, requiring frequent oversight on location and problem solving

Liquid Redox Solution for Gas Treating

In our VALKYRIE™ H2S removal system, we have commercialized a Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) process for converting H2S into elemental sulfur using chemistry (Reduction) that can be regenerated and be used again by exposure to oxygen (Oxidation).

The gas (i.e., Methane, CO2, other process gases) or air containing the H2S exits the system sweet (without H2S) and the elemental sulfur is filtered from the regenerated chemistry where the chemistry is recirculated to perform the reaction again and the sulfur is collected in a container available for reuse or disposal.

The VALKYRIE system utilizes TALON® chemistry, our non-toxic, biodegradable Redox chemistry. In combination with our advanced automation and control technology, we have created “The Next Generation Redox” system.

Benefits of the VALKRYIE gas treating system:

  • A green solution that converts H2S into benign substances including water and elemental sulfur
  • Universal application for biogas, landfill gas and oil and gas production
  • Widest operating envelope of any H2S Treating method extending across the full spectrum of pressures, flow rates and H2S concentrations
  • Treating to established specifications for sales pipelines, gas lift and fuel gas
  • Flexibility of placement along the production stream whether at the anaerobic digester, at a landfill, wellhead, refinery, in a direct or tail gas treating configuration
  • 100% turndown
  • We specialize in meeting the most stringent outlet specifications.

Role of Natural Gas in Reducing Emissions

EIA reports that emissions of CO2, a primary Greenhouse Gas (GHG) have declined substantially, primarily as a result of power generation switching to natural gas away from coal fired power plants. Further, EIA expects adoption of natural gas for power generation to increase through 2050 as it displaces coal as a primary feedstock.

Citations

U.S. Energy Information Agency, Annual Energy Outlook 2022

Interstate Natural Gas – Quality Specifications and Interchangeability, Center for Energy Economics, University of Texas at Austin

Categories Educational, Liquid Redox, RNG
Posted on Educational

Using Liquid Redox Chemistry to Treat Sulfides in Wastewater for Odor Control

At the root of most odors generated from wastewater operations is When organic matter decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), sulfur compounds are converted in hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is a foul smelling, noxious, corrosive and flammable gas.  This can occur in water where the hydrosulfide ions (HS-) are produced in solution and carried along until the outgas as H2S, creating the familiar rotten egg stench.   

Exposure to hydrogen sulfide may cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system. It can also cause apnea, coma, convulsions, dizziness, headache, weakness, irritability, insomnia and stomach issues. (Source – CDC)

Wastewater H2S Treatment Plant

Additionally, H2S is a major cause of odors in wastewater treatment systems and is notable for its toxicity and its ability to corrode various materials used in sewer and treatment plant construction. (Source – EPA)

Much effort and many technologies have been developed and applied to combat H2S in both aqueous and gas phases, with varying degrees of expense, effectiveness, and side effects.   

One particularly effective method of treating H2S in solution is Liquid Redox.  While normally associated with treating H2S as a gas, liquid redox catalyst can be applied in the aqueous phase in combination with hydrogen peroxide to effectively and economically reduce dissolved sulfides and eliminating H2S odor problems.

We cover Liquid Redox and other H2S treatment methods in our White Paper Wastewater Odor Control Technology and Best Practices.

The key to the success of liquid redox treatment is the regenerative nature of the reaction.  It starts with a chelated (pronounced: key-late-ed) iron catalyst that has a strong affinity for the hydrogen atom in the hydrosulfide ion that destroys the sulfide, leaving elemental sulfur.  If the process stopped right there, it would be neither effective nor economical because the volume of catalyst would need to match the volume of sulfides.  

However, it does not stop there.  The second part is introducing hydrogen peroxide, an effective means of delivering oxygen in water, reacts with the reduced catalyst by taking the hydrogen and thus reactivating the chelated iron to react with yet another HS- ion.  This process continues until either all the oxygen is consumed or all the HS- is destroyed.   

The first part of the reaction is called “reduction”, the sulfide is reduced, and the reactivation of the catalyst is “oxidation”, the catalyst is oxidized.  The whole process together is known as “Liquid Redox”. 

There are several benefits to using Liquid Redox: 

  • First, it works.  High sulfides can be treated to non-detect levels, reducing odor and damage to pipes and equipment.   
  • Second, while more expensive than competitive chemical on a per gallon basis, the fact that the same catalyst reacts again and again with sulfides, less chemicals are required making Liquid Redox more economical from a total cost of treatment perspective.   
  • Third, Streamline’s liquid redox catalyst is safe to handle and transport and is a green biodegradable technology with no harmful byproducts. 

Streamline Innovations offers a particularly robust chelated iron catalyst, known as TALON®.  TALON chemistry is the keystone of the TALON Sulfide Elimination System, which helps reduce odor issues in industrial and municipal wastewater streams across the United States.  www.streamlineinnovations.com 

Contact

Contact Streamline Innovations to learn more about next generation Redox solutions for odor control and determine if the TALON Sulfide Elimination System is right for your wastewater facility.

Stewart North
Business Development Director, Municipal & Industrial
E: Stewart.North@streamlineinnovations.com
T: (859) 948-1638

About Streamline Innovations

Streamline Innovation’s vision is Eliminating Emissions Through Technology.  We help heavy industry around the world achieve environmental performance objectives, improve sustainability, and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Streamline’s environmentally forward H2S treating solutions help achieve the “E” in ESG. H2S is present in many industrial processes throughout the world.  Our technology can be applied across industries, delivering a sustainable solution that eliminates H2S, a leading cause of human inhalation accidents and source of SO2 emissions, a primary cause of acid rain.  TALON chemistry treats effectively in both gas and water phases.

Streamline believes that achieving environmental sustainability directives requires data. Creating intelligent systems that operate effectively and efficiently without human intervention is critical to measuring and reducing emissions that harm the environment.   We integrate advanced process control, data collection and analytics in our technologies to provide a total solution for customers.

We serve organizations in multiple sectors, including Energy/Oil & Gas, Biogas, Landfill Gas & Renewable Fuels, Municipal Wastewater and Industrial Air & Water.

Categories Educational, Liquid Redox, Odor Control, Talon Sulfide Elimination System, Wastewater Treatment
Posted on Liquid Redox

Video Illustration of the TALON™ Sulfide Elimination System

Streamline Innovations TALON™ Sulfide Elimination System™ (TSES™) is a low to no capex solution for treating H2S in water and wastewater, eliminating the source of foul odors, corrosion and cross reactions with other chemical processes with Hydroxyl Radicals.  The TSES utilizes our TALON Redox catalyst combined with an oxygen source (primarily Hydrogen Peroxide), creating an advanced oxidation process that breaks apart H2S and converts it to elemental sulfur.  

This video illustrates how TSES works in a typical wastewater treatment application, safely eliminating sulfides and permanently converting them into Simple Elemental Sulfur™ for use in Organic Food Production. 

Categories Liquid Redox, Talon Sulfide Elimination System, Video, Wastewater Treatment