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ExxonMobil still experiencing design issues with gas compressor
After two years of trial and error …
– pushes installation date for upgraded equipment to mid-year
Kaieteur News – Media and Communications Manager for ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Janelle Persaud disclosed yesterday that the installation of the new gas compressor for the Liza Destiny FPSO will no longer occur in January, as previously stated. Persaud said the upgraded equipment will now be installed by mid-year. Persaud said the third-stage flash gas compressor (FGC) currently on the Liza Destiny FPSO continues to operate steadily in the interim.
EEPGL’s Janelle Persaud
In a statement to the press, it was noted that the redesigned FGC is currently undergoing comprehensive testing in Germany, where EEPGL has determined it will require further enhancements before installation.
Persaud said, “We have adjusted the timeline for its delivery and installation in order to provide the highest assurance of reliable performance.”
Meanwhile, the EEPGL official said ExxonMobil Guyana and the vessel’s owner, SBM Offshore, are also progressing several alternate longer-term solutions which include new technology to bypass the second and third stage FGCs, as well as an entirely new centrifugal compressor package to replace the screw design of the current compressors.
Persaud also noted in a brief note to Kaieteur News that flare levels are being maintained below 15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day when the Flash Gas Compression system is offline and below 7 million standard cubic feet of gas when the FGC is online.
Extensive research conducted by Kaieteur News shows that gas flaring contributes to climate change, which has serious implications for the human security and wellbeing globally. In fact, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, outlined in one of its studies, that gas flaring is actually a major source of greenhouse gases, which accelerates global warming.
It was noted that flaring releases Carbon Dioxide and Methane, the two major greenhouse gases.
Of these two, Methane is actually more harmful than Carbon Dioxide. It is also more prevalent in flares that burn at lower efficiency.
Of the greenhouse gases researched so far, Kaieteur News understands that the global warming potential of a kilogramme of Methane is estimated to be 21 times that of a kilogramme of Carbon Dioxide when the effects are considered.
The University of Ibadan study also noted that flaring contributes to local and regional environmental problems, such as acid rain with attendant impact on agriculture, forests and other physical infrastructure. The acid rain results in environmental degradation, which includes soil and water contamination and roof erosion.
Furthermore, there have been over 250 identified toxins released from flaring including carcinogens such as benzopyrene, benzene, carbon disulphide (CS2), carbonyl sulphide (COS) and toluene; metals such as mercury, arsenic and chromium; sour gas with Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); Nitrogen oxides (NOx); Carbon dioxide (CO2); and methane (CH4) which contributes to the greenhouse gases.
At the moment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows Exxon to flare in exchange for the payment of a US$5 fee per tonne of Carbon Dioxide equivalent.
The agency has since collected over $930M in flaring fees since introducing the arrangement last year.
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