ESG is quickly becoming one of the most frequently used acronyms in energy-company Zoom calls and quarterly earnings calls, joining the ranks of oldies-but-goodies like WTI, Bcf, and NGLs. Everyone — including investors — is pushing hydrocarbon producers, midstreamers, and end-users to improve their “environmental, social, and governance” performance nowadays. It’s not always easy, though, especially when the greener, pro-planet thing to do is a lot more expensive. The good news is that there are at least a few potential win-win opportunities out there where companies can both reduce their carbon footprint and save money. In today’s blog we’ll discuss why, in some situations, CNG makes sense as a clean fuel for use as a potential replacement for diesel, propane, and fuel oil in a wide range of energy, mining, forestry, and utility settings.
We haven’t covered CNG since our blog, Truckin’, in 2017, and that feels like 40 years ago, not four, so let’s start at the beginning, with a brief overview of the necessary elements of bulk CNG operations. The picture in Figure 1 helps illustrate the process.
Figure 1. CNG Process. Source: CNG Virtual Pipeline - Virtual Natural Gas Pipeline | Certarus
The CNG chain begins with a compressor connection to a supply source: an existing natural gas pipeline. The compressor is used to compress the natural gas to less than 1% of its volume into high-strength vessels fitted within a trailer like the ones pictured below. This ain’t your grandpa’s trailer, though; current composite materials enable these trailers to hold up to 500 Mcf of natural gas each. At atmospheric pressure that would be the volume equivalent of a swimming pool as big as a football field and 10 feet deep. So, of course, the pressure inside these things is extremely high (up to 3600 PSI) and decompression is required at the point of use. To do that, regulators and heaters are employed to bring the natural gas back into the usable operating range for the given end use (somewhere in the range of 150-250 PSI).
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About the song
"ABC" was written by Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, and Deke Richards (The Corporation). It appeared as the third track on The Jackson 5's second studio album, ABC. It was released as a single in February 1970, and went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. Personnel on the record were: The Jackson 5, featuring Michael Jackson on lead vocals, with uncredited Los Angeles studio musicians.
The album ABC was recorded in Los Angeles in December 1969, and produced by The Corporation. Released in May 1970, the LP went to #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Two singles were released from the album.
The Jackson 5, later known as The Jacksons, was an American pop/R&B band consisting of members of the Jackson family. The group formed in their hometown of Gary, IN, in 1965 with brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marion, and Michael. They released 16 studio albums, three live albums, 15 compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, and 40 singles. The Jackson 5 are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, and Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Michael Jackson died in 2009. The group has been inactive since 2013.
Comments
We at CNGmotive are working daily to bring the benefits of compressed natural gas to the rail market. Benefits that are both economic and ESG. We have begun bringing a very wide understanding of the best path to carbon neutrality for locomotives. That path is through cng to renewable methane by the power2gas process. Voila- carbon neutrality for the rail world in North America at a net economic benefit to the railroads. www.cngmotive.com
Dave Scott