Estimation and Reduction of Methane Emissions at the Scheduled and Repair Outages of Gas-Compressor Units

Assessment of the negative impact on the components of the natural environment during the scheduled and repair outages of gas-compressor units in transportation the process of the natural gas was the purpose of the performed scientific work. The results of the monitoring studies, in which the methane concentrations were measured in the atmospheric air near the source of pollution and on the border of the sanitary protection zone during volley emissions of natural gas into the atmosphere, are presented in the article. In addition, a method that eliminates the release of the natural gas into the atmosphere during the scheduled and repair outages of gas-compressor units are suggested in the article. The method is based on the redistribution of gas flows and the direction of natural gas to the gas distribution station. Volley emissions of methane into the atmosphere will completely eliminated as a result of implementing this method. The proposed technical solution is aimed at reducing the negative impact on atmospheric air near gas compressor stations. Moreover, the proposed method is able to minimize the economic damage to gas companies because of the loss of marketable products.