The process of moving produced oil from the wellhead to gathering facilities requires pipeline booster pumps. In remote locations where utility power is unavailable, the most cost-effective choice for powering these pumps is a generator. However, running a generator nonstop to support equipment only required intermittently can be inefficient and expensive, wasting fuel and producing unnecessary emissions — an issue that requires significant attention with the introduction of EPA-mandated tier 4 standards.

Not to mention that generators which are continuously running also have a tendency to overheat and need more attention adding to costs for maintenance. One midstream client in West Texas needed an emissions-friendly solution, which would also turn generators on and off as needed, so they called on us.

To help meet objectives, our engineering team created a power automation package that enabled intermittent generator operation only when the booster pump required power. The package included a 200 kW diesel generator, a remote monitoring system, diesel fuel tank and an automated control system. The system integrated with the programmable logic controls on the booster pump to start and stop power as needed.