CASE STUDY
“ and that amount is set to increase each year .” These costs – combined with the fees , repairs , and subsequent downtime to maintain EPA compliance – mean producers like Laramie Energy face significant losses in terms of time and money if they fail to meet compliance .
Fortunately , the valve company has partnered with producers to manufacture all-electric , low-power solenoid dump valves that meet customer needs . These valves have also played a critical role in facilitating the company ’ s compliance . In addition to the dump valve , the company is now looking at other solutions to reduce emissions , including fuel train flow valves and wellhead valves .
• Less Current Draw : Due to the valves ’ low current draw , field operators have not had to replace batteries as often or add additional solar panels to its sites .
• Minimal Seat Washout : Compared to hard-seat valve designs , the all-electric valve minimizes seat washout . “ Although seat washout varies on a well-to-well basis , we have not seen it yet with this solution in the field ,” Kizer said .
• Reliability : According to Kizer , the electric valves have been performing reliably in the field for over a year without any issue . “ They are pretty much hands-free ,” he said .
The Cost of Noncompliance
According to Kizer , the company is implementing the electric dump valves in newly drilled wells while updating its legacy wells with this solution . The solutions have provided an economical approach to meet compliance on both newly drilled production sites and the retrofit of existing production sites to meet new standards . “ The methane tax is stipulated in metric tons , meaning we would have to pay USD $ 900 per metric ton over the state mandate ,” Kizer said ,
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Even if environmental compliance was off the table , however , Kizer says the productivity and maintenance benefits of the electric dump valve have been well worth it . “ Even if we did not need to comply with anything , we would still use this solution in a heartbeat .”
Justin Valdez has over 16 years of experience in manufacturing , spanning R & D , operations , purchasing , and sales . He holds an Engineering degree from Metropolitan State University and an MBA from Regis University , combining technical expertise with strategic business acumen . Justin ’ s diverse background enables him to deliver innovative , industry-leading solutions , including patented technologies that drive business growth and operational excellence .
www . valve-world-americas . net • October 2024 | Valve World Americas 21