S08 ORME 1 2022 Tech news_Layout 1 28/01/2022 14:05 Page 32
Power
Image Credit: Aggreko
Putting waste gas to
good use As a global leader in flare gas to power generation solutions, Aggreko is well positioned to help its clients navigate the challenges of the energy transition. Oil Review Middle East spoke to Robbie Pond, the company’s head of Sector – Oil and Gas (Middle East) to find out more. ELPING CLIENTS ACHIEVE their energy transition objectives is a big focus now for Aggreko, leading provider of mobile, modular power, temperature control and energy services. Robbie Pond points out that, while the term energy transition may have only recently become common currency, Aggreko has in fact been involved in flare gas to power for around 12 years now. “We have done more than 200 projects around the world, taking this waste gas and putting it to good use, rather than venting or flaring it, whether it be powering our clients’ operations, converting it to energy to sell back to the grid, even doing what we call virtual pipelines where we can move that gas, if it is stranded commercial gas, to different parts of the country where it is needed, to power homes and businesses.
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In 2020 around 878 mn cubic feet a day was flared in the GCC, enough to power around seven million homes.”
Image Credit: Aggreko
“It’s a clever solution, part of the circular economy, and a quick win in that there’s no big capex spend. When you compare this to some longer-term green energy solutions which take time to develop, test, build and commission, it’s something that can be implemented very quickly and makes a big impact as a bridge to net zero.” There is an increasing awareness about the possibilities of flare gas
Drone view of the project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
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Aggreko has completed more than 200 flare gas to power projects worldwide.
to power, Pond says, and the company is executing a number of projects within the region and globally. “In other parts of the world there are different commercial evaluations, so for example in North America or Eurasia you’re looking to offset the cost of diesel by replacing the diesel with the flare gas. Whereas in the Middle East, diesel is heavily subsidised, so it is more about taking that step change for energy transition. Some governments are prohibiting diesel now, so we’re seeing a move away from diesel towards gas and cleaner fuels as well.” Aggreko has just announced that it has completed commissioning of its biggest flare gas to power project in the region to date, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where it was contracted to provide 165 MW of power. “That is huge, it’s a big flagship project which involves large civil works and a long-term commitment,” says Pond. “Nevertheless, it has been fast to implement. Within six months of the mega project being awarded, we were on the ground providing half of that power straight away, and we have been ramping up on a regular basis.” The plant is run on approximately 40mn standard cubic feet (SCF) per day of associated petroleum gas from the Saquala field, saving 840 tonnes of CO2 per day, and cutting flaring by a third. The project is now
