This report develops a benchmark energy factor model to evaluate the energy performance of natural gas compressors used in upstream oil and gas processing in British Columbia. Site visits were conducted at 6 natural gas plants to collect instantaneous data on compressor parameters like flow rate and power consumption. Benchmark energy factors were calculated for compressors at different plants based on actual versus theoretical energy consumption. The results provide a basis for benchmarking and identifying energy efficiency opportunities, though more historic data is needed for a robust analysis. Barriers to implementing full benchmarking across the sector are also discussed.

1. BENCHMARK ENERGY FACTOR
FOR NATURAL GAS
COMPRESSION
CEEN 596 PROJECT REPORT
Prepared by: Prepared for:
Pratik Mistry Dr. Vladan Prodanovic, Ph.D.
Student ID: 68856146 Senior Instructor
Master of Clean Energy Engineering Master of Clean Energy Engineering
The University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC Canada Vancouver, BC Canada
pratik.04.mech@gmail.com Vladan.Prodanovic@ubc.ca
Project Mentor
Markus Zeller
P.Eng, CEM, CMVP
Evaluation Conservation and Energy Management
BC Hydro
Vancouver, BC Canada
Markus.Zeller@bchydro.com

2. I
Executive summary:
This study was carried out as a capstone project for Masters of Clean Energy
Engineering course at the University of British Columbia from Jan-2016 to April-2016. BC
Hydro – Power smart engaged with UBC to undertake a study into the monitoring and
energy performance measurements for natural gas compressor systems.
The objective of the study was to develop an Excel based standard model on energy
performance of natural gas compressors for the determination of the controllable and
non-controllable energy associated with natural gas compression process. This report
focuses solely on an electric motor driven reciprocating compressors which are installed
in the upstream of oil & gas (UOG) industry.
The Benchmark Energy Factor (BEF) criterion was used to determine the energy
performance of the compressor. The BEF, actual energy consumption divided by
essential energy consumption, allows for a comparison of energy performance by taking
into account the energy consumption of any industrial process in relation to the varying
input & output material over time.
Primary data collection was targeted from BC Oil & Gas commission (BCOGC) & Ministry
of Natural Gas Development (MNGD). The data collection target was established for all
electric driven compressors installed in UOG sector of British Columbia but due to
complexity and large uncertainties of online data, this target was not completely
achieved. In order to complete the project within the timeline, a site visit was therefore
arranged with a total of 6 natural gas processing plants where electric driven

3. II
compressors are installed. The visited plants provided an appropriate instantaneous data
for the calculation of the BEF.
Key findings of the study include:
• The calculated values of instantaneous BEF for 5 different natural gas processing
plants that can be used to support the implementation of natural gas
compression process-based benchmarking at the entire UOG industry sector. The
calculated BEF values are not as robust as it should be but represent acceptable
values that can be used to compare the energy performance of the compressors
within the plant and across the plant. In real-world application, benchmarking
requires great effort for large historic data collection to design a reasonably
accurate baseline energy model for all scenarios. However, at the entire UOG
sector level, calculations should be treated with caution and further in-depth
analysis is required to meet the goal of this project.
• The benchmarking of natural gas compression system’s energy use can provide
valuable insights regarding energy efficiency potentials at UOG industry sector.

4. III
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements:.....................................................................................................................................
Executive summary:.....................................................................................................................................I
List of figures..............................................................................................................................................IV
List of tables ...............................................................................................................................................IV
List of Abbreviations:....................................................................................................................................
Introduction:................................................................................................................................................1
1. Project Work:.........................................................................................................................................
1.1 Area and scope of the project:......................................................................................................
1.2 Background work: ...........................................................................................................................
1.3 Purpose:............................................................................................................................................
1.4 Objective: .........................................................................................................................................
1.5 Adiabatic horsepower approach...................................................................................................
1.6 Data sources: ...................................................................................................................................
2. Site Visit:.................................................................................................................................................
2.1 Plant visit photos:.............................................................................................................................
2.2 Site visit data collection:.................................................................................................................
3. Calculation: ............................................................................................................................................
3.1. Instantaneous Benchmark Energy Factor (BEF): ............................................................................
3.2. Compressor theoretical power (Pt): ................................................................................................
3.3. Natural Gas compressibility factor (Z): ...........................................................................................
3.4. Adiabatic exponent (k):.....................................................................................................................
3.5. Discharge temperature (T2): ............................................................................................................
3.6. Adiabatic efficiency (Ƞa):...................................................................................................................
3.7. Gas flow rate (Q):...............................................................................................................................
3.8. Results: ................................................................................................................................................
4. Conclusion: ............................................................................................................................................
4.1. Recommendations for future work: ................................................................................................
4.2. Barriers: ...............................................................................................................................................
References: ....................................................................................................................................................
Appendix A: ...................................................................................................................................................

5. IV
List of figures
Figure 1 : Natural Gas Transportation Process .........................................................................................
Figure 2 : Generalization of an Industrial Process....................................................................................
Figure 3 : Daily energy consumption trend of five different natural gas compressor stations..........
Figure 4 : Daily Observed Specific Energy Consumption Trend (kWh/E3m3)......................................
Figure 5 : Compression curve......................................................................................................................
Figure 6 : Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline System ...................................................................................
Figure 7 : Natural Gas Wellhead.................................................................................................................
Figure 8 : Natural gas gathering pipeline entering the processing plant.............................................
Figure 9 : One of the natural gas processing plants................................................................................
Figure 10 : 2-stage 6-cylinder Ariel KBZ reciprocating compressor model..........................................
Figure 11 : Historic Benchmark Energy Factor for reciprocating compressor (Ariel JGZ/4) ...............
List of tables
Table 1 : Basic details of the plants visited................................................................................................
Table 2 : Calculated values of Instantaneous Benchmark Energy Factor..............................................

6. 1
Introduction:
Today’s increased world population has raised tremendous energy demand. Natural gas
being superior to other energy sources in economic attractiveness and environmental
concern will remain the preferred fuel to meet this ever growing energy demand in the
future. At the upstream processing steps, the natural gas compression process is one of
the major energy consuming processes. Process-based energy benchmarking which is
very helpful for identifying the potential for improving energy performance effectively
can be designed and implemented for this natural gas compression process. As an
effective energy analysis tool, benchmarking has been used in many areas for different
objectives.
Following the scope of this project, this report presents its contents in four different
sections. 1) Project work: It contains background information, area focused, main
purpose and objective, approach and methodology chosen for this project. 2) Site visit:
It contains the details on natural gas processing plant visited for this project. 3)
Calculation: It provides how calculations were carried out to get the results for this
project. 4) Conclusion: This section contains a brief conclusion of the project work and
provides some recommendations to take this project ahead. It also includes the barriers
to be considered in the future for successful implementation of this project.
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