Natural gas consumption is at an all-time high. Global demand stood at 4,072 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2022. Additionally, this trend continues for the foreseeable future, with a projected CAGR of 11.4% between 2024 and 2033.
The need for natural gas is ever-increasing due to multiple factors. Rapidly developing economies and the industrialization of many third-world countries have created a continuously growing demand for fuel. The dependence on natural gas has intensified recently due to its potential as a relatively clean energy source.
What are Natural Gas Facilities?
As the demand for natural gas has risen, so has production. Natural gas production requires the setting up of natural gas facilities. These facilities comprise the entire infrastructure that allows natural gas to be extracted, processed, stored, transmitted, and distributed to consumers.
Facilities include natural gas well sites, processing plants, gathering compressor stations, storage facilities, and transmission compressor stations. Natural gas must go through multiple processing stages before it is ready for delivery to the end user.
In its original form, natural gas may contain many additional components, including carbon dioxide, helium, and sulfur. Processing facilities also remove water and water as these are typically present alongside natural gas.
All the infrastructure and equipment that aids in extracting, processing, storing, and delivering natural gas can be categorized as a natural gas facility. Since natural gas is a highly flammable fossil fuel, these facilities must prioritize safety.
Safety is essential for ensuring a secure and danger-free working environment for the workers and plays a key role in preventing gas-related incidents. A lack of safety measures can lead to accidents such as gas leaks, fires, and explosions. Proper safety measures must be in place.
Incorporating Safety when Setting up Natural Gas Facilities
Natural gas production and distribution companies are subject to strict government rules and regulations. These regulations prevent the exploitation of natural resources and destruction of the surrounding habitat; however, they help prioritize safety above all.
Complacency and lack of oversight can have deadly consequences in the case of natural gas facilities. This is why safety must be ensured at every stage of extracting and processing natural gas. Here is how safety is incorporated into the construction of natural gas facilities:
· Planning and Site Preparation
The first stage of any construction is the planning phase. Site preparation also occurs at this stage as it presents the perfect opportunity to conduct risk assessments to examine the safety situation for a specific site. Offshore sites, for example, carry risks unique from onshore sites.
It is not enough to have an idea of potential risks, planning must include contingency plans so any issues that may arise can be dealt with effectively. Compliance with regulations defined by local, state, and federal authorities is also scrutinized to avoid problems later on.
Permits for such facilities are only approved once the authority in charge ensures that all safety protocols are in place like an appropriate number of emergency exits. The natural gas facility can only become operational once it is in complete compliance.
· Essential Safety Measures During Construction
When the construction is underway worker safety is of immense importance. The construction industry reports the highest number of on-job fatalities. Natural gas facilities are hazardous as workers must not only contend with the usual construction-related issues like heavy lifting but also do so in the proximity of a highly volatile and flammable material.
It is vital to ensure that workers are fully trained and equipped to carry out construction activities at hazardous sites. They must remain vigilant and be aware of the telltale signs of a gas leak.
A great way to guarantee safety on-site is to hire a company like ReCo Energy Solutions as they provide recompression and pipeline evacuation services. If repairs are needed at a natural gas facility this can pose a serious risk to worker health. ReCo Energy can safely store natural gas from the facility temporarily so the repair work can be completed.
Removing natural gas and storing it separately reduces the risk of any accidents and creates a safe environment so workers can do their jobs without any worries. All materials must be labeled properly and safety protocols should be visible to all workers working at the facility at all times.
· Pipeline and Infrastructure Integrity
Pipelines are a key aspect of the entire operation. They deliver natural gas from the extraction site to the processing plant and transmit the processed gas to the end user. Defects and damage in the pipeline are a major safety concern as even a small leak can cause a lot of damage. Since natural gas is invisible, small leaks can go unnoticed easily.
Pipelines must be inspected for durability and strength and leaks through hydrostatic pressure testing. This process involves using water to pass through the pipeline before the natural gas so any leaks in the pipeline structure can be detected.
While manual checks are important, natural gas facilities must also incorporate technology for an added layer of security. Sensors help detect gas pressure in the pipelines and any change in the pressure is reported in real-time. A change in pressure, specifically a drop in the pressure, could be indicative of a gas leak. A change in pressure can trigger the sensor alert system so the issue can be examined further.
· Environmental and Community Safety
Safety is not simply about keeping the natural gas facility safe; it also involves ensuring that the facility does not pose a danger to the surrounding environment. Minimizing the environmental impact is also part of the natural gas facility safety apparatus.
Environmental protection begins at the planning phase of the project. The impact of the facility on the surrounding ecosystem needs to be fully assessed. The construction process needs to be designed in a way that causes minimum disruption to the environment. Special care must be taken to preserve and safeguard the well-being of the flora and fauna of the selected area.
A proper disposal system needs to be in place. Economic activity involving extraction and processing often results in the creation of a lot of waste. Natural gas facilities need to develop suitable waste disposal systems. Disposing of waste without properly treating it or dumping it into the environment directly can lead to the release of dangerous chemicals and toxins into the environment. This can seriously endanger all living things residing in the area.
· Post-Construction Safety Considerations
The completion of the construction does not mean that safety is no longer a concern. Despite all the precautions and steps taken, it is necessary to remain vigilant. A final inspection is necessary before the facility can become operational. This consists of self-testing and inviting third parties to inspect and provide safety clearance.
Safety audits can help weed out any potential risks that may have gone unnoticed during the construction of the facility. They also check for compliance with regulatory requirements.
The Final Word on Safety
No matter how much we talk about safety, it is never enough. Safety at the workplace is a fundamental right of the workers, and in high-risk working environments like natural gas facilities, safety has to be enforced from the very top.
Construction of natural gas facilities must incorporate a focus on safety at every step of the way. Risk must be minimized even if it means increased cost. Safety is a long-term objective that starts with the planning phase and does not end. It is a long-term, continuous process.
Natural gas facilities are tough environments to work in. There is always the danger of a gas leak, explosion, or fire. Safety is not an option in such situations, it is a necessary part of the entire enterprise.
