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OK Department of Environmental Quality Completes Pollution Initiative

Posted on: Monday, 13 February 2006, 21:00 CST

By Jerry Shottenkirk

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and seven oil and gas companies have completed a Flash Initiative designed to reduce pollutants from hydrocarbon storage areas.

The participating companies were Oneok Inc., Duke Energy Field Services, Enogex, Anadarko, Mustang, CenterPoint and Northern Natural, and they spent about $8 million between them, DEQ officials said.

We're really excited about the Flash Initiative, and these companies decided to participate voluntarily, said DEQ spokeswoman Monty Elder. It has already taken place, and these companies made commitments and spent their dollars.

Elder said the initiative began in late 2002 and ended in December.

The Flash Initiative put an emphasis on reducing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) that flash, or rapidly evaporate, from storage tanks and other sources. The emissions were tabulated and control devices were installed.

The VOCs were reduced by 17,501 tons per year and HAPs fell to 537 tons per year, the DEQ said.

DEQ officials said VOCs lead to ozone depletion and HAPs are composed of a lineup of chemicals that are potentially harmful. Methane also was reduced.

The initiative took place all over the state of Oklahoma, where the oil and gas companies have storage tanks, Elder said.

The Air Quality Division of DEQ was in charge of the initiative and continues to address and estimate flash emissions of VOCs from tanks.

DEQ officials said pressure decreases when liquids are transferred from a vessel or pipeline to a tank. The flash refers to the release of some of the compounds.

Source: Journal Record - Oklahoma City

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