WHY AUTOMATE LOW POINT DRAINAGE?
Low point drains are placed in the low points of the gas gathering network to capture and expel water in the pipeline due to either condensate dropping out of the gas or slugs of water bypassing separators at the wellhead. The removal of water from the gas pipeline ensures an unimpeded flow of gas through the network, reduces backpressure at the well head and protects in-field compressors.
The LPD-MAX provides an automated solution to the removal of water from the gas gathering network in either the CSG fields or mining goaf gas networks. The benefits of the LPD-MAX over a manual truck extraction system are:
REDUCED OPERATING COST
More wells can be operated by the same number of staff. This becomes especially relevant as fields expand and the number of wells increase. Because the LPD-MAX is monitored, field operators can see daily whether there is any need to visit a low point drain so avoiding unnecessary trips. Automated drainage of low points means fewer kilometres travelled and less vehicle wear and tear.
REDUCED CAPITAL COST
Avoid the high capital cost of tanker purchase. LPD-MAX skids can be purchased for a fraction of that price and moved around the low point drains as required.
EXTENDED LIFE OF A WELL
Over time, the gas pressure of a well reduces. By preventing water build up in the pipeline on a consistent basis, back pressure at the well is reduced thereby extending the life of the well.
WELL OPTIMISATION
Continuous removal of water from the low point drain regardless of the weather and accessibility, means that the gas flow is optimised at all times.
IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY
Automated drainage of low points, reduces the amount of travel by operators and therefore risk associated with the kilometres driven. Removing tankers from the road reduces the risk of vehicle accidents including truck rollovers.
LESS DISRUPTION TO LANDHOLDERS
The landholders face fewer disruptions from Gas operators on their land because tanker trips have been reduced and operator checks also reduced.
REDUCED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Inevitably fugitive gas emissions occur when a tanker is hooked up to the low point drain and water drained until gas is produced. With the LPD-MAX, the patented gas breakthrough unit stops water pumping when it detects gas thereby reducing fugitive gas whilst ensuring a fully drained low point.
INCREASED MONITORING OF FIELD HYDRAULICS
Understanding the hydraulics of a field is crucial to determine well optimisation and enable modelling of the gas and water networks. Automated drainage with monitoring, provides weekly graphical data of the amount of water appearing at low points in the gas gathering network.
INCREASED MONITORING OF GAS PRESSURES IN THE FIELD
Pressure transducers on the LPD-MAX show in-field measuring of gas pressures to allow gas modelling within the network and assess the impact of water build up in the system. It provides an interim measure between the well and the in-field compressors to ensure that gas production is always maximised.