Recommended Technologies to Reduce Methane Emissions
Review our Lessons Learned Studies and Partner Reported Opportunities (PRO) Fact Sheets to see how the U.S. EPA’s voluntary oil and gas methane program partners have implemented technologies and practices to cut methane emissions, reduce strategic and operational risk, and demonstrate their commitment to the environment.
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.
Compressors/Engines
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Seal Degassing Recovery System for Centrifugal Compressors, PRO Fact Sheet | $33,000 (one compressor); $90,000 (four compressors) | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Replace Gas Starters with Air or Nitrogen, PRO Fact Sheet #101 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Reduce Natural Gas Venting with Fewer Compressor Engine Startups and Improved Engine Ignition, PRO Fact Sheet #102 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Reducing Methane Emissions from Compressor Rod Packing Systems, Lessons Learned | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves, PRO Fact Sheet #602 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Reducing Emissions When Taking Compressors Off-Line, Lessons Learned | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems, PRO Fact Sheet #504 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Install Automated Air/Fuel Ratio Controls, PRO Fact Sheet #104 | > $50,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Install Electric Motor Starters, PRO Fact Sheet #105 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Inject Blowdown Gas into Low Pressure Mains or Fuel Gas System, PRO Fact Sheet #401 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Replace Compressor Cylinder Unloaders, PRO Fact Sheet #106 | $10,000-$50,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Install Electric Compressors, PRO Fact Sheet #103 | > $50,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Replacing Wet Seals with Dry Seals in Centrifugal Compressors, Lessons Learned | > $50,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Transmission |
Dehydrators
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reroute Glycol Skimmer Gas, PRO Fact Sheet #201 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Pipe Glycol Dehydrator to Vapor Recovery Unit, PRO Fact Sheet #203 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Replace Glycol Dehydration Units with Methanol Injection, PRO Fact Sheet #205 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Portable Desiccant Dehydrators, PRO Fact Sheet #207 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | |||
| Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems, PRO Fact Sheet #504 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Zero Emissions Dehydrators, PRO Fact Sheet #206 | $10,000-$50,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Optimize Glycol Circulation and Install Flash Tank Separators in Glycol Dehydrators, Lessons Learned | $10,000-$50,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | ||
| Convert Natural Gas-Driven Chemical Pumps, PRO Fact Sheet #202 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Convert Pneumatics to Mechanical Controls, PRO Fact Sheet #301 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Replacing Gas-Assisted Glycol Pumps with Electric Pumps, Lessons Learned | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | ||
| Replacing Glycol Dehydrators with Desiccant Dehydrators, Lessons Learned | $10,000-$50,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing |
Directed Inspection and Maintenance
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Remote Sites, PRO Fact Sheet #901 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves, PRO Fact Sheet #602 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Gate Stations and Surface Facilities, Lessons Learned | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Compressor Stations, Lessons Learned | $10,000-$50,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Gas Processing Plants and Booster Stations, Lessons Learned | $10,000-$50,000 | 1-3 years | Gathering and Processing |
Pipelines
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves, PRO Fact Sheet #602 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Insert Gas Main Flexible Liners, PRO Fact Sheet #402 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Distribution | |||
| Composite Wrap for Non-Leaking Pipeline Defects, Lessons Learned | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Perform Valve Leak Repair During Pipeline Replacement, PRO Fact Sheet #601 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Using Hot Taps for In Service Pipeline Connections, Lessons Learned | $10,000-$50,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Recover Gas from Pipeline Pigging Operations, PRO Fact Sheet #505 | $10,000-$50,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Using Pipeline Pump-Down Techniques to Lower Gas Line Pressure Before Maintenance, Lessons Learned | > $50,000 | 0-1 year | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution | |
| Use Inert Gases and Pigs to Perform Pipeline Purges, PRO Fact Sheet #403 | 0 | 1-3 years | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution | |
| Convert Natural Gas-Driven Chemical Pumps, PRO Fact Sheet #202 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Inject Blowdown Gas into Low Pressure Mains or Fuel Gas System, PRO Fact Sheet #401 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Inspect Flowlines Annually, PRO Fact Sheet #404 | < $1,000 | 3-10 years | Production |
Pneumatics/Controls
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convert Gas Pneumatic Controls to Instrument Air, Lessons Learned | > $50,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Options for Reducing Methane Emissions From Pneumatic Devices in the Natural Gas Industry, Lessons Learned | < $1,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Convert Pneumatics to Mechanical Controls, PRO Fact Sheet #301 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Convert Natural Gas-Driven Chemical Pumps, PRO Fact Sheet #202 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Replacing Gas-Assisted Glycol Pumps with Electric Pumps, Lessons Learned | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing |
Tanks
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convert Water Tank Blanket from Natural Gas to Produced CO2 Gas, PRO Fact Sheet #503 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | |||
| Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems, PRO Fact Sheet #504 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Recover Gas from Pipeline Pigging Operations, PRO Fact Sheet #505 | $10,000-$50,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Recover Gas During Condensate Loading, PRO Fact Sheet #502 | < $1,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Install Pressurized Storage of Condensate, PRO Fact Sheet #501 | $10,000-$50,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Installing Vapor Recovery Units on Storage Tanks, Lessons Learned | > $50,000 | 1-3 years | Production |
Valves
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Install BASO® Valves, PRO Fact Sheet #604 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | |||
| Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves, PRO Fact Sheet #602 | < $1,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Perform Valve Leak Repair During Pipeline Replacement, PRO Fact Sheet #601 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Replace Burst Plates with Secondary Relief Valves, PRO Fact Sheet #605 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | |
| Install Excess Flow Valves, PRO Fact Sheet #603 | $1,000-$10,000 | 3-10 years | Distribution |
Wells
Other
| Document Title | Capital Cost | Estimated Payback | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce Frequency of Replacing Modules in Turbine Meters, PRO Fact Sheet #906 | 0 | 0-1 year | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Redesign Blowdown Systems and Alter ESD Practices, PRO Fact Sheet #908 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Transmission | |||
| Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems, PRO Fact Sheet #504 | $1,000-$10,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Install Flares, PRO Fact Sheet #904 | $10,000-$50,000 | 0-1 year | Production | Transmission | ||
| Nitrogen Rejection Unit Optimization, PRO Fact Sheet #905 | > $50,000 | 0-1 year | Gathering and Processing | |||
| Increase Walking Survey from a 5- to 3- Year Basis, PRO Fact Sheet #902 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Transmission | Distribution | ||
| Install Electronic Flare Ignition Devices, PRO Fact Sheet #903 | $1,000-$10,000 | 1-3 years | Production | Gathering and Processing | Transmission | Distribution |
| Replace Bi-Directional Orifice Metering with Ultrasonic Meters, PRO Fact Sheet #907 | > $50,000 | 1-3 years | Transmission | Distribution |