Williams has completed modernization efforts and redesigned operations at two of our existing Transco facilities located in Chatham, Virginia, and Scottsville, Virginia, to help satisfy the growing demand for reliable clean energy in the region.
“The expansion project and upgrades made at our facilities focus on practical and immediate opportunities to reduce emissions and we’re really proud of that,” said Sr. Operations Manager Stuart Roach, in our Virginia South District and an employee at Williams for the past 35 years.
“By optimizing and adding new technology at our facilities, we are contributing to our commitment to reducing our legacy emissions footprint along the Transco pipeline system,” he added.
The work began in early 2020 with the Southeastern Trail Expansion Project. Modifications at the Chatham facility included the permanent retirement of ten legacy natural gas-fired reciprocating compressor engines and the commissioning of two new advanced combustion technology turbine compressors. Modifications at the Scottsville facility included an increase in horsepower of an existing electric motor-driven compressor and the addition of one new advanced combustion turbine compressor.
The new combustion turbine exhaust systems are equipped with emissions control technologies to maximize emissions reductions at levels that go above and beyond regulations. These facilities are the first Williams’ interstate natural gas transmission assets to implement turbine post-combustion selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions controls resulting in ultra-low NOx emission rates.
How does an SCR work?
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems are post-combustion emissions control technology installed on the turbine exhaust manifold. The system controls the turbine’s exhaust gas using a catalyst bed and ammonia injection grid to chemically convert nitrogen oxides (NOx) to Nitrogen (N2) and water vapor (H2O).
Compressors are key to moving clean energy
Compressors are large mechanical devices that “push” natural gas along pipelines.
They use either rotational force or piston movement to increase the pressure and are key to the energy value chain.