February 2024

New Ways to Lower Emissions

Seneca Resources has introduced a new method to increase gas production and reduce emissions from its wells. It’s using capillary strings to inject foam into wells to prevent them from becoming “loaded up” – this typically happens later in a well’s lifecycle when pressure isn’t great enough to lift the fluid to the surface.

The capillary string is a small tube that is inserted into the heel of the gas well. When fluid accumulates in the well, blocking gas from flowing easily, a small amount of chemical foam is injected into the string. The foam blends with the fluid, making it lighter and easier to lift out of the well. Once the fluid and gas enter the flow line, a defoaming agent is added to eliminate the foam.

Capillary strings lower emissions by preventing the need for manual unloading, which involves opening the well directly to production storage tanks. This process lifts the liquid out so the gas can flow freely again, but also results in emissions.

Capillary strings are one of several tools and techniques that Seneca uses to prevent manual unloading of wells. It also recently introduced a mobile compressor (photographed above) that uses field gas to force liquid and gas out of the well. Other times, Seneca will pump nitrogen into the casing to help lift the liquids out. In both cases, the fluid and gas are pushed into production equipment and continue through the normal flow process, resulting in a completely enclosed system with no vented emissions.

How HFS is Reducing Waste

Seneca Resources is dedicated to natural gas development that is responsible and sustainable. One of the ways we achieve this is by recycling the waste generated by our operations, including any fluid waste that comes from the production or transportation of natural gas.

Highland Field Services (HFS) – Seneca’s water management company – was founded in 2015 to meet the water management needs of Seneca and other natural gas operators in the Appalachian Basin. HFS runs five facilities in Pennsylvania that treat and recycle different kinds of fluid waste. Besides produced water, some HFS locations - including the Blossburg water treatment facility in Tioga County and the Mt. Jewett facility in McKean County - can also treat fluids from NFG Midstream compressor stations. Midstream compressors are machines that help move natural gas through pipelines. Oil is used to keep the compressor unit lubricated and running smoothly. It mixes with water and is collected and taken to an HFS facility for treatment. After the oil is separated from the fluid, it’s sent to a third party for recycling and reuse.?

Recycling waste oil benefits the environment by reducing the amount of oil that is disposed of. It also reduces the amount of energy and resources needed to manufacture new oil.

Celebrating Our Engineers

Engineering is more than just a profession; it is a way of thinking, creating, and improving the world around us. Engineers use science, math, and technology to find innovative solutions that enhance sustainability and efficiency throughout our operations.

But who are the engineers behind these innovations? And how did they discover their passion for engineering? This month we celebrated Engineers Week by featuring our engineers, their stories, and insights for future generations.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up??

For Seth Huber, he discovered his passion for engineering while attending Bradford Area High School. He went on to study mechanical engineering at Penn State and now works for National Fuel Gas Company Midstream in Kane, PA. Last week, Seth returned to his hometown to share his career journey with seventh graders at Fretz Middle School.

Seth spoke to twenty captivated students about his career path, from high school to college to NFG Midstream. He explained the process of producing natural gas and transporting it to homes and businesses through pipelines and compressors. He also taught them a math equation that he uses daily on the job. Seth encouraged the students to be prepared to take responsibility for both their successes and mistakes, as engineering is a rewarding but challenging field.

“Solving problems and doing new things every day are the most rewarding parts of the job,” Huber told The Bradford Era. “I learned to be humble and realize that many of the people I work with have much more experience than I do, even if I am the supervisor."

Introducing Seneca's New STEM Program

We're thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for students to explore the world of energy and discover the critical role that natural gas plays in powering our planet!

Energy Explorers is a free program designed to introduce students to natural gas exploration and production. Through interactive experiments led by our dedicated employees, students will gain insights into the sustainable development of natural gas and its significant contributions to our daily lives.

Program Overview:

Important Notes:

• Students are responsible for their transportation and must be picked up no later than 3:30 pm.
• After the completion of the program, students will receive a school absence letter. It is highly recommended that you inform your child's teacher in advance about their participation in the event.?

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Please send any questions to [email protected].