ONEOK

Oklahoma Facility’s Reduced Emissions Continue to Impress

ONEOK takes stakeholder expectations to operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner very seriously.

In early 2020, ONEOK added another milestone for emissions reductions – decommissioning of compressors in Oklahoma at the Lindsay booster station, which ultimately led to additional reductions at a similar facility in Maysville.

A combination of access to replacement parts, efficiency and emissions, led to the complete replacement of the equipment at Lindsay with electric-driven compression. Originally, natural gas-driven engines pushed natural gas upstream from Lindsay to Maysville where Maysville would then compress before processing. The new electric equipment at Lindsay allows for enough high-pressure compression to bypass the compressors at Maysville before processing. This change allowed for the shut-down of gasoline engines, which reduced emissions at both facilities.

Over the last 10 years, the potential emissions for the Lindsay booster station resulted in the facility being categorized as a major source, which required the facility to obtain a Title V permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In June, ONEOK received the official permit categorizing the facility as a minor source. Due to the complete switch to electric, Lindsay went from a Title V emitter to zero combustion emissions, and statewide emissions have been reduced by more than 94%.

These major changes at Lindsay and the bypass at Maysville greatly reduced ONEOK’s overall greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) as well, equating to removing the emissions associated from 9,000 cars each year since 2010.

The new equipment allows us to take a step forward to operate in a cleaner and greener manner. It’s also easier to maintain and control.

The now decommissioned compressors at Lindsay and Maysville were tied for the oldest in Oklahoma with each in production for more than 70 years.