CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Clarksville Gas Department began a 12-inch high-pressure natural gas pipeline improvement project in early May on Highway 41-A South, and crews used an innovative new technique, called “cross compression,” to avoid venting natural gas into the atmosphere.
The project included gas main spot replacement and pipeline maintenance, according to a news release from Clarksville Gas & Water.
Normally, the process involves evacuating and releasing natural gas, including methane, from a high-pressure gas main line into the atmosphere. But with the use of cross compression, specialized equipment is used to recycle the gas from one section of the main line into another section.
The technology was developed by Versiv Solutions, an Artera company.
“Versiv is a trusted leader in safety and environmental solutions for energy and natural gas industries,” Troy Jones, Gas Manager, said in the news release. “I am happy with our choice to use this innovative technique for the necessary improvements of our gas system in a less impactful manner.”
The cross-compression process for this project is estimated to save just over 1 million standard cubic feet of gas, which represents the following Environmental Protection Agency equivalencies.
- 72.7 homes’ energy use for a year.
- 64,014 pounds of coal burned.
- 128 passenger vehicles driven for one year.
- 688 acres of U.S. forest.
“I am very pleased to partner with the Versiv team on this natural gas project to lower our environmental impact while achieving our compliance goals,” said Mark Riggins, Gas & Water General Manager. “I’m also proud to be on the forefront of this innovative technology for the benefit of our natural gas system.”
For more, go to the Clarksville Gas Department website, or call 931-645-7422.