Electric Dump Valve Actuator to Eliminate Methane
Approved for funding in ERA’s Natural Gas Challenge in 2020, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC) and Linear Motion Technologies (LMT) developed and tested an Electric Dump Valve Actuator (EDVA) to replace pneumatic actuators, thereby eliminating methane emissions. By completion in 2022, the project proved the EDVA’s performance in wellsite applications, advancing the technology to commercial readiness.
PTAC partnered with LMT Canada to develop and test an affordable and fail-safe EDVA to replace pneumatic valves in the oil and gas industry. LMT’s SmartRam EDVA controls the dump valve actuator electrically, providing a reliable, economic, and easy-to-install and maintain technology. The EDVA can replace a large percentage of existing pneumatic devices and offer a more efficient alternative for new installations. Replacing pneumatic actuators with EDVA eliminates methane emissions and meets critical safety requirements, filling the need for Canadian operators to adopt an economic and dependable solution that exceeds the performance of gas pneumatics.
Validated EDVA to Replace Pneumatic Devices
The project completed the prototype design, development, and field testing of the EDVA for 1” and 2” valve applications. Testing proved the EDVA to work in the field, operate in varying temperatures, and achieve fast timing. The fail-safe EDVA proved to meet functional and environmental requirements of wellsite dump valve actuation under various loads and conditions, advancing technology readiness level to proceed to commercialization. The project validated the EDVA’s ability to enable the replacement of existing pneumatic valve actuators for wellsite applications and provide a low-cost cost reliable, and safe solution for the electrification of well sites. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic closure of the international border, the field testing and project emission reductions were outside of Alberta. The field tests that validated the technology took place in Texas, under representative field conditions, which validated outcomes directly applicable to Alberta. Alberta operators Cenovus Energy, Husky Energy, Shell Canada, and Whitecap Resources, which originally offered to field test EDVA prototypes, continued to participate in the project by providing technical information relevant to operating the technology in the Alberta context.
What’s next?
Going forward, LMT plans to partner with established valve manufacturers, distributors, and supply chain partners. LMT is refining the SmartRam EDVA for mass production and is pursuing capital investment. LMT plans to assemble, distribute, and support EDVA deployment in Alberta.