Archrock, Enervest complete pilot of methane capture technology

Archrock and EnerVest have successfully completed a field pilot of Archrock’s patent-pending methane capture technology on a United Production Partners (UPP) gathering facility in the Barnett Shale. EnerVest is the contract operator for UPP.

The field pilot comes following extensive testing of the technology in a lab setting. Archrock’s methane capture device is a solution for fugitive emissions reductions from compressor operations, including unit blowdowns and compressor packings. The device is a skid mounted solution for natural gas powered and electric motor driven compressor packages for both existing compression facilities as well as greenfield locations, Archrock said.

“We are excited to advance our strategy of assisting the oil and gas industry to reduce its methane intensity with the development and commercialization of a state-of-the-art methane capture technology for the compression industry,” said Brad Childers, Archrock’s president and CEO. “In particular, methane leak mitigation will be critical in solidifying the important role natural gas will continue to play in meeting the growing need for cleaner energy. The potential value of this technology is further enhanced in light of the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.”

The device is one way Archrock can add value to its core contract compression services as many of its customers commit to reducing emissions and seek responsibly sourced gas certifications, he said.

“We believe this is a unique technology, with the ability to cost-effectively capture methane on existing infrastructure as well as new facilities while allowing us to maintain our commitment to maximize customer uptime,” Childers said.

As a long-term customer, EnerVest was an ideal partner for a pilot. Archrock have already engaged with multiple customers across all basins on the technology and have received positive responses, he said, adding the company will start marketing efforts for the device in Q4.

“We were happy to partner with Archrock in the evaluation of this cutting-edge methane capture technology as we actively look for solutions to reduce our emissions footprint,” said Levi Maurer, Vice President of Operations at EnerVest. “In our 30 years as an operator across various basins, EnerVest has consistently maintained a commitment to safety and environmental stewardship and we believe solutions like this are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the oil and gas industry.”