Linc Energy Blog

Yes, it’s in my blood, the oil and gas industry that is. I’m in it for the count. Are you?

Tags: energy independence movement, environment, natural gas, oil

Operator Qualification Training (OQ) is a safeguard mandated through congress from 1992 and is currently enforced through Pipeline Safety Acts. To ensure the safe transportation of hazardous liquids and gases through pipelines, operators must be qualified. The burden of getting pipeline operators properly trained lies on private pipelines or pipeline contractors.

Tags: petroleum, natural gas, transmission, pipeline safety, operator qualification (OQ)

There are various styles of flowmeters for natural gas measurement which can be categorized by their operating technologies, such as: vortex shedding, Coriolis technology, differential pressure, positive displacement, turbine, ultrasonic or thermal. While there are pros and cons of using each of these types of flow meters, this entry explains “What is a thermal mass flowmeter?”

A thermal mass flow meter measures gas flow based upon the principal of heat transfer. Essentially heat is introduced into the gas flow stream and then the rate of how the heat dissipates is measured. For this to work, the meter needs a probe or “flow body” containing two sensors (resistance temperature detectors) which will be in contact with natural gas within the pipe.

One of the sensors is heated and serves as a self-heated flow sensor while the other is a reference sensor and measures the gas temperature. As gas flows by the heated sensor (flow sensor), the flowing gas molecules carry heat away from the sensor, so the flow sensor cools and energy is lost. The temperature difference between the flow sensor and the reference sensor has changed and within a second the circuit heats the flow sensor to replace the energy that has been lost. The mass flow is calculated based upon the energy (electricity) required to restore and maintain a constant overheat temperature. 
 

Diagram courtesy of Sage Metering - gas mass flow meters

Among the advantages of thermal mass flow meters is there are no moving parts or orifices which eliminates replacing bearings and prevents undetected shifts in accuracy. They also don’t require temperature or pressure corrections and provide good overall accuracy and repeatability over a wide range of flow rates. This style of meter calculates mass flow rather than volume and is one of the few categories of meters that can measure flow in large pipes.

The thermal mass flow meter is cost effective and accurate making it an excellent choice for most natural gas mass flow applications.
 

Tags: natural gas, natural gas measurement, natural gas industry, thermal mass flow meter, flowmeter

In this back to basics entry, I discuss why natural gas pressure regulators are used in a delivery system.

After natural gas makes its way out of the well, into gathering and transmission systems, and gate stations, it ultimately enters distribution lines (or “mains”).

B31 residential regulator

While gas is in the distribution system, regulators control the flow from higher pressure to lower pressure. Regulators sense if the pressure in a line drops below a specified set point and opens, allowing more gas to flow. On the other hand, if pressure rises above a set point the regulator will close so that the downstream pressure adjusts.

When natural gas leaves the main, it travels through a “service line” to reach homes or businesses. This service line is likely to be polyethylene, perhaps an inch or less in diameter and ranges from about 60 PSI to ¼ PSI. Once the gas reaches the home or business meter it passes through another regulator to reduced the pressure under ¼ PSI and is measured in water column.

Throughout the gas delivery system, from the well to the stove burner, regulators are used to adjust the pressure to ensure safety.
 

Tags: back to basics, natural gas, regulators, transmission, gathering

Five people died from the Allentown PA gas explosion.

Earlier this week it was reported that the safety of the cast iron main is under scrutiny for being the cause of the Allentown explosion which killed five people on February 10.

Reports are suggesting that the cause of the explosion is likely from a natural gas leak originating from a cracked cast iron main. Cast iron is subject to corrosion and decay and is rarely used in today’s natural gas pipeline construction. The 83-year old pipeline is badly in need replacement. While today most pipelines are made of plastic (polyethylene), there are 63,000 miles of cast iron pipe that run across Pennsylvania alone. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (PA) instructed UGI Utilities and other natural gas companies to replace their outdated cast iron network.

In my earlier posting, Natural gas fireball in Philadelphia - where next? I reported how reminiscent the January 18 Philadelphia explosion was to the San Bruno incident. I didn’t realize it’d be only days away from the next explosion. In fact we seem to have had our share of incidents lately,

 

• January 18, 2011 - A gas main being repaired in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania explodes, killing a repair crew member and injuring 6 others.
• January 24, 2011 - Gas pressure regulators failed and caused a gas pressure surge in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, igniting fires burning several homes and one apartment, damaging 45 furnaces, 10 boilers, 19 water heaters, and 10 other gas appliances. 
• February 10, 2011 - 5 people killed and 8 homes destroyed in a gas explosion and fire in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
• February 10, 2011 - a 36 inch gas transmission pipeline explodes near Lisbon, Ohio.

It’s unfortunate that it takes accidents like these to bring to light the aging network of pipelines which are not just limited to San Bruno and Pennsylvania, but are nationwide. It is time that we become more proactive and advocate safety and damage prevention of our gas pipelines.
 

 

Tags: gas explosion, cast iron pipe, natural gas, gas leak

In the wake of the San Bruno gas line explosion, two California senators filed legislation yesterday to increase the regulation of our nation’s pipelines.

Utility companies have been under pressure for years to increase their inspections and replacement of aging pipelines. The San Bruno explosion, resulting in seven fatalities (as of 9/22/10) and leveling nearly 40 homes (destroying over 50), has cranked up the heat even more.

In 2000, a gas pipeline exploded and killed 12 people near Carlsbad, New Mexico. In that explosion, the pipeline was also an aging one, dating back to 1950 and was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The cause of the rupture was determined to be from severe internal pipe corrosion.

Since the San Bruno explosion, reports have surfaced that aging pipelines are a threat to gas pipelines nationwide. The concern has been raised that more than 60% of this country’s transmission lines are over 40 years old and the life expectancy is around 50 years. The majority of these lines are made of steel which is prone to corrosion and many of the pipelines were installed before suburbs emerged, and now present the risk that they could leak or erupt … beneath now populated suburban neighborhoods.

In 2002, a law was passed by congress which required utilities to inspect pipelines that run through densely populated areas. While critics suggest that utility companies don’t want to spend money to inspect and repair aging pipelines, over 3000 problems were identified during the first five years of this legislation. This demonstrates that the regulation has identified and resolved precarious situations, but it also clearly reveals just how unstable our aging pipelines are.

Yesterday, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer introduced new legislation which would increase regulation of our nation’s pipelines.

“The pipeline explosion in San Bruno was a tragedy that must never occur again in any American neighborhood,” Senator Feinstein stresses in a statement. “That’s why today we are introducing legislation specifically designed to improve pipeline safety – and to establish penalties for violators.

“The American people must be assured that the pipelines that crisscross the nation and run beneath their streets are safe. This legislation is a strong first step in that direction.”

The Strengthening Pipeline Safety and Enforcement Act of 2010 expands on Ray LaHood U.S. Transportation Secretary’s legislation which was proposed last week, and would^(1):
 

• Double the number of federal pipeline inspectors (there are currently 100 inspectors each responsible for inspecting over 2,000 miles)
• Require the use of electronic shut off valves to cut off gas in an emergency rather than manual valves which need to be located and manually turned off
• Order the internal inspection of pipelines by robotic devices, “smart pigs,” or other methods which are deemed equally successful
• Prohibit pipelines from working at high pressure if the line cannot be inspected using effective assessment methods
• Priority will be given to aged pipelines in seismic areas

The legislation, being authored by the two California senators is calling for an increase in penalties for violators of the federal safety regulations. It’s unclear when this legislation will be put to a vote, though we are sure to hear more in the weeks to come.
 

 

 To the left, utility safety worker inspects pipeline and valve wrapped with Trenton Wax Tape for cathodic protection.

 

 

 ⁽¹⁾ California Senators call for tougher pipeline standards

 

Tags: natural gas, damage prevention, San Bruno explosion, gas line rupture, corrosion prevention, cathodic protection, Trenton wax tape, pipeline regulation, Strengthening Pipeline Safety and Enforcement Act

The current political environment encourages that we enter a new age and explore alternative fuels to energize our future.

"Is it a fact -- or have I dreamt it -- that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has
become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time?"
--Nathaniel Hawthorne

I’ve spent the majority of my professional life selling products to the Natural Gas Industry. There is no secret that I’m committed to natural gas. It is also no secret that as fossil fuels are depleted we have a responsibility to explore safe ways to extract fuels from hard to get places, but also we need to investigate alternative fuels. This is one of the reasons our warehouse and headquarters are energy efficient with sustainable solar power.

The more I looked into alternative fuel, the more confused I became by all the terms commonly used. In my earlier post, Diversification: Renewable and nonrenewable energy  I explained that renewable energy can be replenished in a short period of time. Additionally, renewable energy does not pollute or harm the environment when used. Energy generated from wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power, tidal power, geothermal power and wave power are excellent examples of renewable energy.

Nonrenewable energy is limited and requires millions of years to produce. Fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal, are nonrenewable. This type of energy does harm the environment at varying degrees with natural gas producing considerably less carbon dioxide than coal or oil.

Alternative fuel is a designation to describe fuels that are not considered conventional (or nonrenewable). In other words any fuel that is nonconventional, like renewable fuels would be an alternative fuel.

All renewable energy is considered sustainable energy, but not all sustainable energy is renewable. To be considered sustainable, it must meet our current needs and when used it can’t compromise the needs of future generations. Examples of these would be plant material (biomass), wind power, solar power, wave power, tidal power and geothermal power.

While some consider nuclear energy to be sustainable, others argue that the risks associated with the use of this energy, such as accidents and terrorism, strip fission power from this designation.

Another term that seems to be popping up is green energy. Green energy or green power is a label for energy sources which are non-polluting and combat future global warming.

We have entered the age of alternatives. In subsequent posts I will discuss the pros and cons of various sustainable energies, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal energy, tidal energy, wave power and others.
 

 

Tags: natural gas, fossil fuel, alternative energy, nonrenewable energy, renewable energy, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar, coal or uranium, shale extraction, hydraulic fracking, alternatives, gas extraction, wind power, currents, green, carbon neutral, wind turbine, renewables, alternative energy, nonrenewable energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy, green energy, green power, wind power, solar power, wave power, tidal power and geothermal power, nuclear energy, fission power, fossil fuels, oil, natural gas, coal

The current political environment encourages that we enter a new age and explore alternative fuels to energize our future.

"Is it a fact -- or have I dreamt it -- that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has
become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time?"
--Nathaniel Hawthorne

I’ve spent the majority of my professional life selling products to the Natural Gas Industry. There is no secret that I’m committed to natural gas. It is also no secret that as fossil fuels are depleted we have a responsibility to explore safe ways to extract fuels from hard to get places, but also we need to investigate alternative fuels. This is one of the reasons our warehouse and headquarters are energy efficient with sustainable solar power.

The more I looked into alternative fuel, the more confused I became by all the terms commonly used. In my earlier post, Diversification: Renewable and nonrenewable energy  I explained that renewable energy can be replenished in a short period of time. Additionally, renewable energy does not pollute or harm the environment when used. Energy generated from wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power, tidal power, geothermal power and wave power are excellent examples of renewable energy.

Nonrenewable energy is limited and requires millions of years to produce. Fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal, are nonrenewable. This type of energy does harm the environment at varying degrees with natural gas producing considerably less carbon dioxide than coal or oil.

Alternative fuel is a designation to describe fuels that are not considered conventional (or nonrenewable). In other words any fuel that is nonconventional, like renewable fuels would be an alternative fuel.

All renewable energy is considered sustainable energy, but not all sustainable energy is renewable. To be considered sustainable, it must meet our current needs and when used it can’t compromise the needs of future generations. Examples of these would be plant material (biomass), wind power, solar power, wave power, tidal power and geothermal power.

While some consider nuclear energy to be sustainable, others argue that the risks associated with the use of this energy, such as accidents and terrorism, strip fission power from this designation.

Another term that seems to be popping up is green energy. Green energy or green power is a label for energy sources which are non-polluting and combat future global warming.

We have entered the age of alternatives. In subsequent posts I will discuss the pros and cons of various sustainable energies, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal energy, tidal energy, wave power and others.
 

 

Tags: natural gas, fossil fuel, alternative energy, nonrenewable energy, renewable energy, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar, coal or uranium, shale extraction, hydraulic fracking, alternatives, gas extraction, wind power, currents, green, carbon neutral, wind turbine, renewables, alternative energy, nonrenewable energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy, green energy, green power, wind power, solar power, wave power, tidal power and geothermal power, nuclear energy, fission power, fossil fuels, oil, natural gas, coal

Could natural gas be the link to a renewable energy future? Could it be the energy to bridge the gap between fossil fuels and alternative energy?

In my recent blog, Natural Gas: From eternal flames, lamp lights to heating homes, I highlighted some of the milestones from the Natural Gas Industry. Let’s not let recent incidents, like the Marcellus Shale accident deflate our sails. Now is not the time to acquiesce. Sure, we need to do things safer and better, but we need to keep moving forward.

There is no argument we should move toward a future of total renewable energy. No one disputes that fossil fuels harm the environment. But we’re not even close to being able to satisfy our country’s energy needs with just alternative energies. So where does that leave us? If natural gas isn’t the energy of choice, we’re left with coal, which could be an environmental disaster, or we’re left to importing oil from foreign countries – need I say more?

I say, let’s choose natural gas, the cleaner fossil fuel to link to alternative fuels. Let’s learn from our mistakes, make our processes safer, create a few jobs while we’re at it and make this clean energy lead the charge to a total renewable future.

Enjoy this video from the American Natural Gas Alliance.
 

 

Tags: natural gas, energy, alternative energy, renewable energy, Marcellus Shale, clean energy, wind power, currents, green, carbon neutral, wind turbine, environment, planet, renewables, gasland

Let’s face it, the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels have been receiving its fair share of bad press lately. While some situations may warrant it, sometimes it’s difficult for people to remember the good things that have emerged from fossil fuels. For this reason, I thought it was a good time to remind us of the industry’s past and its accomplishments.

Energy and persistence conquer all things.
Benjamin Franklin

As early as 1821 we have been drilling for natural gas. In Fredonia, New York, William Hart dug a 27’ deep well. He excavated by hand using shovels to intentionally obtain natural gas. To create a pipeline, he hollowed out logs and sealed them using tar and rags, then transported the gas to light lamps at stores, shops and a mill.

During the 19th century natural gas was used primarily as fuel lamps, but because of the absence of pipelines the fuel was mostly limited to city streets. In the latter half of the century, most cities began replacing their street lamps with electricity and natural gas producers started seeking new ways to market the fuel.

It was Robert Bunsen who brought to light (pun intended) a new application for natural gas. When Bunsen mixed air with natural gas he created the “Bunsen burner,” and a new way to warm structures and cook foods was revealed.

Of course, pipelines were needed to bring the fuel to new markets and the first major line (120 miles) was built in 1891, but it was cost prohibitive and few were built following that, until after WWII. Improvements in welding and pipeline construction were discovered during the war effort, and these breakthroughs became instrumental in making pipelines affordable. So, in the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of miles of pipelines were built.

After WWII, natural gas became the preferred energy source and was incorporated in the housing boom construction at that time. Today, over half the U.S. homes are heated by natural gas. Additionally, natural gas is used to make electricity, is a feedstock in the manufacture of chemicals, fertilizers and plastics, and propels trucks, buses and cars.

In the 1970s natural gas supplies seemed to be dwindling and we entered the energy crisis. We were encouraged by oil embargoes to use other efficient measures to conserve energy, like insulating our homes.

Traditionally, natural gas comes from “permeable sand deposits.” To simplify, getting natural gas from a conventional source would be like drilling a hole, then allowing the gas to escape. In the 1980s, when our easy sources for natural gas started disappearing, drillers set out to recover gas from those unconventional or more challenging deposits which contain tight-gas sands. Using processes we had been using for years to stimulating oil and gas wells, methods like hydraulic fracking and horizontal drilling were adapted to explore these alternative sources.

It has taken years to learn how to extract gas from varying mediums like shale, coal, or tight gas sands. Obviously, we’re still learning, and will continue to do so. As these technologies are scrutinized are because of the recent Marcellus Shale incident, let’s remember where we’ve come from. In one century we’ve gone from lamp lights to heating more than half the U.S. homes. We’ve gone from building a 120 mile pipeline to having a network of pipelines that are hundreds of thousands of miles.

Apparently even the ancient gods of Mesopotamia had issues extracting natural gas. It is speculated that the ancient eternal fires were caused when natural gas escaped from the earth and was ignited by lightening. While we still have more to learn about extracting natural gas, taking safety precautions certainly should be our top priority, but you have to admit, we’ve come a long way from the eternal fires and lamp lights, wouldn’t you say?
 

Tags: Robert Bunsen, pipelines, gas extraction, William Hart, horizontal drilling, fracing, hydraulic fracking, fracturing, drilling, Marcellus Shale, alternative energy, fossil fuel, energy, natural gas

With the depletion of our fossil fuels, we are being forced to find new ways to extract natural gas and hydraulic fracking is a technology which has enabled us to extract gas from hard-to-tap shale in many areas of the U.S. including Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Texas and Louisiana.

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
-Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

Hydraulic fracking (a/k/a fracing or fracturing) has been used by the oil & gas industry for more than 60 years. While it has been more commonly used to stimulate the production of older producing wells, the technology has evolved and now allows the extraction of natural gas from shale or sand. This new drilling technology makes extracting gas commercially viable in areas we once thought were impossible. This is one of the reasons natural gas was recently touted the “fuel of the future.” It burns 70% cleaner than coal and its costs have come down. Natural gas could be the fuel to bridge us to new renewable energies, but with the recent blowout at the Marcellus Shale formation, drilling has been put on hold and hydraulic fracking is subject to increasing scrutiny.

During hydraulic fracking a fracturing fluid is injected at high pressure into sand or shale in some cases as deep as 10,000 to 13,000 feet below ground. The intent of fracking is to loosen natural gas which has become trapped in tiny bubbles. A deep well is dug and the fracturing fluid is pumped down under high pressure to fracture the shale and let the gas flow back up to the surface. The fracturing fluid contains a proppant, suspended particles to hold the fractures open.

One of the environmental concerns of fracturing is the leak off from the fracturing fluid. Some fluid is loss in permeable rock and can make its way to a water source. Additionally, air and land contamination were among the concerns that arose during the well blowout at the Marcellus Shale on June 3, 2010. During this incident, 35K gallons of fracturing fluid were sprayed in the air and over the landscape.

The concern of course is the actual compounds used in fracturing fluids are somewhat secretive which makes it difficult to assess environmental concerns. The composition of fracturing fluids varies depending on the basin and needs, but can include toxic substances and carcinogens like: benzene, formaldehyde, kerosene, toluene and xylene. (1)

Recently the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission voted to require full disclosure of the hydraulic fracturing fluids used in natural gas exploration. (2) On the federal level, congress is being urged to repeal an exemption in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which would force the drilling companies to fully disclose the chemicals used in their hydraulic fracking.

There is no doubt that we need natural gas as a resource. The answer isn’t to abandon the premise of extracting natural gas from difficult places. But, if we are to continue down this road, don’t you think we owe it to ourselves and our children to do it safely?
 

(1) http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/ogdsgeischap5.pdf

(2) http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_069139a4-5b9b-51c3-a599-a38f788e8ff4.html

Tags: drilling, Marcellus Shale, alternatives, fracing, fracturing, hydraulic fracking, natural gas, energy, nonrenewable energy, shale extraction

You don’t have to be a tree hugger to recognize that we need to do things differently. It has become clear that we must look to the future and diversify how we fill our energy needs.

"Not only will atomic power be released, but someday we will harness the rise and fall of the tides and imprison the rays of the sun."  --Thomas Alva Edison

 

Energy is considered renewable when its source can be replenished in a short period of time. Biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar are examples of renewable energy, and in 1998 they represented 7.4% of US energy. About 93% of the energy used in the United States is from nonrenewable sources, like petroleum, natural gas, coal or uranium. We’ve named these sources as nonrenewable because their resources are limited. Fossils fuels like petroleum, natural gas and coal are formed over millions of years, through chemical reaction from the remains of plants and animals. While we may think these resources are endless, they aren’t and it takes millions of years to produce them.

The simple economic model of supply and demand tells us that as the supply of fossil fuel diminishes, the price of this fuel increases. Without proper diversification into alternative fuels we could set ourselves up for a future energy crisis.

Additionally, it’s no secret that the use of fossil fuels hurt the environment and is linked to the thinning of our ozone layer and global warming. Without exploring alternatives we are promoting climate changes which could lead to unsounded consequences.

It’s clear that as our fossil fuels become depleted, we strive harder to retrieve them which open ourselves to severe, almost unfathomable outcomes:

• We drill the ocean floors and subject ourselves to environmental, ecological and economic devastation.
• We create new technologies to retrieve natural gas from shale and risk polluting our water.
• We build massive natural gas pipelines which rupture and cost lives.

Diversification is no longer a choice - it’s a requirement. While we cannot stop using fossil fuels, we can move forward more cautiously in fossil fuel extraction and expand our sights to alternative and renewable energy.

Let’s become better stewards of the planet.
 

Tags: gulf spill, shale extraction, coal or uranium, petroleum, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, biomass, renewable energy, nonrenewable energy, alternative energy, fossil fuel, energy, natural gas

I’m thrilled to be writing about something that matters to me - our future. I’m Susan Bender, President and CEO of Linc Energy Systems, which is based outside of Denver, Colorado. I’ve been involved in the natural gas industry for 30 years, and I’ve seen many changes over that time.

"Energy and persistence conquer all things."
--Benjamin Franklin

As my commencing blog, I wanted to share a bit about myself and company, Linc Energy Systems. As a manufacturers’ representative and stocking distributor, I’ve represented the finest companies over the years which offer instrumentation, equipment and products, to natural gas transporters and natural gas distributors. I’m also a utility field contractor, and specialize in the installation, maintenance and repair of gas flow metering equipment.

At the end of last year, I realized I needed to diversify my business. While part of this was driven by the economy, a larger part was influenced by my corporate vision. Simply put, my vision is to make this world a better place for our children. While the foundation of my business is anchored in selling products to conventional (nonrenewable) energy industries, I realized I needed to look at things differently. The answer was not to remain so rigid in my offerings and to acknowledge that there needs to be some balance in the manner we are energizing our lives.

This year, Linc Energy is shifting.  We've expanded into alternative energy to complement our offerings. Don’t get me wrong, my interest in natural gas hasn’t waned, but I believe we need to explore alternatives as we move forward. The tragic oil spill in the gulf and the recent Marcellus Shale accident confirms that we can’t rely wholly on conventional energy and need to consider doing things differently and diversify.

The intent of this blog is to write about matters in the energy industry, and since much of my experience has been in natural gas – many of my topics will relate to this fossil fuel. But I will, from time-to-time, offer thoughts on alternatives. Blogs aren’t one-sided communication vehicles; they offer a place for readers to convey their thoughts and feelings, so as I make blog entries I encourage you to also post your thoughts.

I hope you enjoy this blog.
 

Tags: natural gas, energy, fossil fuel, alternative energy, nonrenewable energy, renewable energy