Upstream

Ariel Upstream Applications

As natural gas is processed and cleaned to prepare for transport and sale via pipelines, waste gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are often byproducts. These gases are very corrosive when mixed with water and must be safely removed. Ariel acid gas compressors extract and then inject these sour gases into high-pressure disposal wells.

How it works:

What is Acid Gas Injection?

Acid gas components can be present in some gas gathering wells. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) are two common acidic components in raw natural gas. When these are present, the natural gas must be processed or “sweetened”, prior to use or sale.

Processed & Cleaned

As natural gas is processed and cleaned, dangerous acidic gas components may be left as a byproduct.

Safely Dispose

To safely dispose of these components, the low pressure, acidic gas mixture is sent to a compressor within the processing plant.

Compress Acidic Gas

The acid gas is compressed through 4 or 5 stages of compression.

Injected into Disposal Wells

Once the acidic gas reaches cavern injection pressures of approximately 2,200 to 4,500 psi, the gas is injected into underground disposal wells.

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Over time, mature oil field formations often experience production decline. In gas injection, associated natural gases produced from the well are captured and reinjected into an oil reservoir at high pressures thus increasing the reservoir pressure and boosting the desired production level by forcing oil and gas to the surface. The oil produced is collected for further processing and refining. Another type of EOR is gas lift, where high pressure gas is injected into the wellbore to lower the hydrostatic pressure in the annulus, reducing the viscosity of the oil and improving its flow.

How it works:

What is Enhanced Oil Recovery?

A natural gas injection application is one of many enhanced oil recovery methods. By injecting natural gas into an oil reservoir, the reservoir pressure increases to maintain the desired production level.

Field Production Declines

Over time, mature oil field formations often experience production decline

Boost Production

To boost production, associated natural gas or waste gases are injected through gas injection wells at high pressures into the formation.

Injected

The injected gas pressure in the formation builds high enough to force oil and gas to the surface through oil producing wells.

Recaptured

The gas produced is recaptured and re-injected, and the oil produced is collected for further processing and refining.

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Natural gas gathering compressors are often two to four-stage reciprocating compressors, driven by natural gas engines, and sized for the gas gathering system's flow rates and pressure needs. These compressors are located at the wellhead or in a trunk line fed by several reservoirs. Reciprocating compressor packages are built on rigid structural skids allowing the compressor to be relocated as needed when reservoir or pipeline gas conditions change.

How it works:

Discovery

Natural gas is found in underground deposits, or reservoirs, and as associated gas in oil reservoirs.

Extraction

The deposit or reservoir is tapped and the gas free flows.

Compression

The gas is sent through a compressor station, where it is compressed to a moderate pressure.

Treatment and Distribution

The gas is then sent onto a processing or treatment plant where liquids, heavy gas condensates and acidic gasses are removed prior to distribution for use

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Case Studies

Sharjah National Oil Corporation

Case Study

Learn how Ariel compressors are increasing well stability and asset recovery in one of the harshest climates on earth.

Learn More

La Creciente, Colombia Gathering Station

Case Study

Needing a reliable gas compression station to meet distribution requirements for a variety of operating conditions, Pacific Rubiales Energy installed Ariel JGE compressors.

Learn More

To view more Ariel Case Studies, please visit our Ariel In The Field page.

Air or nitrogen injection applications involve compressing gas for injection during the underbalanced drilling process. The injected gas keeps the reservoir pressure above the wellbore pressure, increasing production, allowing oil and gas to flow while drilling. Additionally, the drilling rate typically increases as an underbalanced condition is approached. Excessive overbalance can slow the drilling process. Ariel offers application-specific components, engineered to ensure your air or nitrogen injection compressors' performance, safety, and reliability.

How it works:

What is Air and Nitrogen Injection?

An Air or Nitrogen Injection application involves injecting air or nitrogen during the underbalanced drilling process.

Injection

Using air or nitrogen injection during underbalanced drilling helps maintain high reservoir pressure, which boosts production by allowing oil and gas to flow while drilling. Additionally, the drilling rate usually increases as the drilling approaches an underbalanced condition.

Drilling Fluid

In conventional drilling, drilling fluid is pumped into the well shaft at high pressures to hold the oil in the reservoir while drilling.

Balance

Excessive overbalance can slow the drilling process by strengthening the near-wellbore rock and limiting removal of drilled cuttings under the bit.

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In a landfill gas application, methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gases are produced during a breakdown of landfill content. The gases are collected and transported through a network of wells and pipelines within the landfill system. The gas is then drawn off the landfill, cleaned, compressed, and processed. Before compression, landfill gas requires filtration to remove numerous particulates that may damage the compression equipment. The captured methane is frequently used as fuel for power turbines driving electrical generators or fuel for natural gas vehicles.

Methane is also captured in other renewable natural gas biodigesters like wastewater treatment or animal waste processing, and a compressor is used to build gas pressure for transmission or fueling. Biogas capture is one of the fastest ways to reduce emissions in transport, with some RNG sources providing negative emissions.