SBEA Internal Training – Oil & Gas February 3, 2010 Oil & Gas Investigations Jason Harris TCEQ...
-
Upload
camila-flynn -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
2
Transcript of SBEA Internal Training – Oil & Gas February 3, 2010 Oil & Gas Investigations Jason Harris TCEQ...
SBEA Internal Training – Oil & Gas February 3, 2010
Oil & Gas Investigations
Jason HarrisTCEQ
Houston Region
GCEAG – September 9, 2010
Investigation Types
• Complaints• Emissions Events• Stack Tests• Comprehensive Compliance
Investigations• Focused Investigations
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Complaints
• Noise• Truck Traffic / Road Conditions• Property Values• Well Location / Distance to Homes• Dust• Odors• No Permit / Authorization
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
What is a Nuisance?
• 30 Texas Administrative Code §101.4“No person shall discharge from any source whatsoever one or more air contaminants or combinations thereof, in such concentration and of such duration as are or may tend to be injurious to or to adversely affect human health or welfare, animal life, vegetation, or property, or as to interfere with the normal use and enjoyment of animal life, vegetation, or property”
• A nuisance violation may be issued regardless of compliance with other rules
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Complaint Response
• Each complaint is prioritized• Oil & gas complaints are investigated
within 12 hours or by the next business day
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Emissions Events
• 30 TAC §101, Subchapter F – Emissions Events and Scheduled Maintenance, Startup and Shutdown Activities
• Upset event – “An unplanned and unavoidable breakdown or excursion of a process or operation that results in unauthorized emissions”
• Emission event – “Any upset event or unscheduled maintenance, startup, or shutdown activity, from a common cause that results in unauthorized emissions of air contaminants from one or more emissions points at a regulated entity”
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Emissions Events
• 30 TAC §101.201 - Emissions Event Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements
• Reportable Quantities (within any 24 hr period)
• Typically 5,000 lbs for natural gas• 100 lbs if H2S or mercaptans
• If RQ exceeded, must be reported within 24 hours (reportable)
• If not, final in-house record must be completed within 14 days (non-reportable)
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Stack Testing
• Oil & gas production sites often include multiple combustion sources which may require stack testing
• 30 TAC 117, Subchapter DApplies to minor, stationary sources of NOx located in ozone non-attainment areas
• 40 CFR 60 Subpart JJJJ – Standards of Performance for Stationary Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines
• 40 CFR 63 Subpart ZZZZ – National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Stack Testing
To determine whether an engine must be stack tested, the following information is needed:
• Type of Compression• Horsepower Rating• Manufacture Date• Type of Burn (Rich v. Lean) *these numbers differ for the EPA
vs. TCEQ• Is the Engine in question Portable, Stationary, or Emergency?• Is the Engine located in an Attainment or non-Attainment
County?• Is the Engine a Major or Minor Source?• Is the Engine used for Utility Electric Generation or is it
used for Industrial/Commercial practices?
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Compliance Investigations
• Investigations are triggered primarily through:• reconnaissance activities• complaints• ambient or mobile monitoring results• special projects or initiatives
• An investigation may be limited in focus or may be more comprehensive
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Investigation Tools
GasFindIR® camera
Toxic Vapor Analyzer
Mini RAESumma canister
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
GasFindIR Camera
• Sources of Observed Emissions • Condensate tank thief hatches• Water tanks• Unlit flares• Tank vents / Enardo valves• Glycol still vents• Gas-actuated valves• Wellheads
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
GasFindIR Camera
• If emissions are observed with the GasFindIR• IR video is recorded• Video is shared with the owner/operator
along with a questionnaire• The questionnaire is used to obtain specific
information about site operations, the reason for the observed emissions, and steps taken to correct or minimize emissions
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Oil & Gas Questionnaire
Company Name: Site Name:Site Location/Address: Contact Name:Contact Phone Number: Contact Email Address:
1. What are the TCEQ air authorizations for this site (i.e. Permit By Rule, Standard Permit, or New Source Review Permit, Title V (if applicable))? Please provide the authorization number, or registration number.
2. Is the site currently in compliance with the authorizations listed above?• What method (source testing, engineering calculations, etc…) did you use to
determine compliance with your authorizations?• If you are not currently in compliance with your authorizations, what actions are you
planning to take to achieve compliance? 3. What is the distance to the nearest receptor (i.e. residence, park, school, church)?4. Please provide a list of equipment at the site.5. Please provide a detailed process description.6. Based upon the provided video, please provide the following information:
• Identification of the unit or equipment with the observed plume.• The associated authorization for that piece of equipment.• Explanation for the observed plume.• Explanation as to how you plan to fix or have fixed the observed emissions.• If the observed emissions from the source are allowed by the site’s authorization,
provide the method used to determine this compliance. • Please provide a timeline for addressing the observed emissions.
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Summa Canisters
• Used to collect air samples
• Analyzed with a gas chromatograph
• Provide concentrations of benzene and other hazardous air pollutants
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Common Problems / Challenges
Authorization• Permit By Rule (PBR) - 30 TAC §106.352
• limits total VOC emissions to 25 tpy• special provisions for sour gas• no maintenance requirements and no distance
requirements for sweet gas facilities• Standard Permit - 30 TAC §116.620
• not site-specific, but includes more requirements than a PBR
• New Source Review (NSR) Permit• site-specific permit• may require modeling for air contaminants
• Title V Permit• required for sources emitting VOC greater than major
source threshold (depends on location)
GCEAG - September 9, 2010
Common Problems / Challenges
Emission Estimates• Several methods for estimating VOC
emissions• Vasquez-Beggs Equation• Gas-Oil Ratio• Process Simulators• Direct Measurement
• Each method has drawbacks• Many operators fail to estimate or measure
emissions; simply assume PBR limits
Rule Revisions
• Draft oil & gas standard permit and PBR currently open for public comment
• Draft Standard Permit: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/permitting/air/Announcements/og_proposed_sp_fin.pdf
• Draft PBR: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/permitting/air/Announcements/og_pro_010018106.pdf
GCEAG – September 9,2010
Rule Revisions
TCEQ seeks to accomplish the following through this rulemaking:
• Update administrative and technical requirements • Include practically enforceable monitoring, sampling, and
recordkeeping requirements • Address and authorize planned maintenance, startup, and
shutdown (MSS) activities • Allow the commission to more effectively focus resources on
facilities that significantly contribute air contaminants to the atmosphere
• Make appropriate changes to registration and notification requirements
• Ensure that air emissions from specific facilities are protective
GCEAG – September 9,2010
Rule Revisions
• The comment period for the proposed Oil and Gas PBR and Standard Permit has been extended to October 1, 2010.
• New date for consideration of adoption by the Commission will be December 14, 2010
GCEAG – September 9,2010
HGB Specific Requirements
• After January 1, 2009, the following requirements apply to sites within the HGB ozone non-attainment area:• 30 TAC 115.112(d)(4): Storage tanks storing
condensate must route flash gases to a control device if throughput exceeds 1,500 barrels per year
• 30 TAC 115.112(d)(5): Storage tanks storing crude oil or condensate must route flash gases to a control device if VOC emissions exceed 25 tpy
GCEAG – September 9,2010
HGB Specific Requirements
• The Houston Regional Office recently concluded an outreach effort to advise tank battery operators of the HGB specific requirements
• This outreach also included a survey of tank batteries with the potential to exceed 1,500 bbls of condensate per year
• On-site investigations at a small number of tank batteries may begin as early as October
GCEAG – September 9,2010
Additional Information
• Multi-media compliance resource: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assistance/sblga/industry/oilgas.html
• PBR and Standard Permit info: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/air/announcements/nsr_announce_3_25_10.html
GCEAG – September 9,2010