wellhead gas

[moosetracks]

Does anybody have any experience burning well head gas in heating and cooking appliances??
Wondered if there were any major problems.

Moosetracks

 

[TBAR]

Great idea............wonder if it would worK?


TBAR

 

[Egon]

It really depends on the gas composition, pressure and rate of flow. It can be done and has been done but is not advisable. Get a few liquid carry overs and you may just burn down what ever is around the stove.

Egon

 

[sneaky_pete]

Works great, IF the gas doesn't have too much Hydrogen Sulfide (a deadly but flammable poison), Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, or other contaminants. Or, too much condensate or water. And you have a big enough regulator to handle large changes in line pressure.

Bottom line, it is possible and safe with all the right equipment constantly maintained (separator, regulators, etc., etc.), but not advisable for the average layman householder. Unless you are both owner and pumper of the well, you will be much safer and happier with Propane.

Pete

 

[ronjhall]

In the area where I live, there a bunch of gas/oil wells. A friend used to maintain the wells. He told me how many of the people who lived on the properties had gas lines hooked to the wells for household use. Most of these people used regular black plastic water line to get the gas from well head to the house. The plastic would deteriorate after about 10 years. His job was to go out and shut gas off until home owner replaced line.
Gas did not have smell that normal natural gas has. They had some kind of detector to tell if there was a leak.

 

[Egon]

Normal natural gas is almost odorless unless it contains some H2S which does smell and is dangerous.

Natural gas for commercial used has mercapton added to give it an odor.

Egon

 

[EastTexFrank]

It used to be done all over Texas and Oklahoma. It was often part of the lease agreement that the leaseholder/land owner had access to wellhead gas for domestic purposes. I don't think it's done much any more because of liability issues. Now whether it's a good idea or not ... that's a different thing. As others have said there are a lot of things that can go wrong, most if not all of them bad.

 

[Bird]

Frank, I'd never seen that done with natural gas in this part of the country, although in Oklahoma as a kid, I heard of folks using "drip gas" (gasoline) in their cars. However, when I was doing gas leakage surveys, I spent a couple of months in Ohio and found quite a number of homes that had both gas from wells on their property as well as lines and meters from the local gas company.

 

[slowrev]

I know of about 6 families in eastern KY that have free gas from the oil wells on their property. Only problem I know of is that sometimes the moisture in the pipes will freeze off the gas flow at the wellhead if they forget to dump the moisture trap periodically. The oderless quality is not an issue as the natural gas in that area seems to be naturally stinky.
Wish I had the same deal here, would have a very warm workshop /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ben

 

[Varmintmist]

Its done all over western PA. Either as part of the lease or private wells. If you have access to a well it can be real economical, but I was told by gas guys that there is no such thing as "free" gas. You either lease the well out, or you have the expense for maint and bailing it out every few years. Still cheaper than buying it.

 

[RICHARDG]

Sure,,need high pressure,low pressure regulators[generally],,and a drip to keep moisture out,drip or drips,need to be in low spots of ground,[gas line in,gas line out],where mosture settles,you might even need an auto dumping seperator at well to get water out,line needs to be gas line type,,generally yellow,,although have seen black,needs to be bured below freeze line,,,bottom line,,its natural gas,,and if you hook it up right,,its just like the stuff you buy,,,cause,,it is.. thingy

 

[Egon]

me thinks that well head gas is very much different that the gas the utility companies supply for comercial use.

Well head gas is wet gas, ie it has heavier hydrocarbons in it. After processing your buying methane. All the heavier stuff has been removed to be sold cause its got other uses and comes in a different state.

A separator just don't put out water dry gas. Need a dehydrator for that and they be a pile of work to look after properly.

Egon

 

[moosetracks]

Hey slowrev, Are you in the Clark/Estill Co area? One of our best friends lives on Trapp-Goff Road.

Thanks for all the replies to my question. According to our producer about the only problem he notes is moisture causing freezing in the winter but a drip trap should make it work fine. Wellhead gas is apparently very common here. Wasn't sure about jets and the air mix though.

Moosetracks

 

[slowrev]

Moosetracks,
I live off of Trapp Goffs corner rd too, small world huh. I sent you a PM with more info so we don't post it to the world. They might even be kin to the wife. Or we already know them.

Ben

 

[Deerlope]

There are a lot of natural gas wells around Sandy Creek, New York and people do have them piped into their homes for heating and cooking. The only adverse condition is that water get in them and they(well head) freezes in the winter.

 

[ronhat]

I have a gas well that I use for all heating in two homes and for clothes dryer and water heaters. The gas has a distinctive oil odor and does not smell of rotten eggs at all. During summer when I do not use much gas the pressure at wellhead is 70 pounds max and only varies by about 5 pounds depending on atmospheric pressure. In winter, when very cold, I use more gas and pressure drops to 25 pounds minimum. I have a drip tank at wellhead that has never accumulated any water at all. A few days ago, when temperature dropped to 5 degrees, well did not freeze and it never has. I reduce pressure at wellhead to 17 pounds, then transport gas 1,000 feet where I reduce it further to a few ounces. The gas burns in my vent free heaters with a clean blue flame. I would like to compress it and transport it in tanks to another city.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

i have two buddies that have gas wells on their property.......moisture is their enemy.....

it seems many people around here have a gas well that they maintain themselves.....

 

[rox]

I have a gas well that I use for all heating in two homes and for clothes dryer and water heaters. The gas has a distinctive oil odor and does not smell of rotten eggs at all. During summer when I do not use much gas the pressure at wellhead is 70 pounds max and only varies by about 5 pounds depending on atmospheric pressure. In winter, when very cold, I use more gas and pressure drops to 25 pounds minimum. I have a drip tank at wellhead that has never accumulated any water at all. A few days ago, when temperature dropped to 5 degrees, well did not freeze and it never has. I reduce pressure at wellhead to 17 pounds, then transport gas 1,000 feet where I reduce it further to a few ounces. The gas burns in my vent free heaters with a clean blue flame. I would like to compress it and transport it in tanks to another city.

Boy are you lucky! An endless source of free gas? I am envious. Did it coe with the house or something? Was it there when you bought? Does some company put int he well and then leave it, abandon it? Did you drill it? How do you end up with a gas well? I was from Wisconsin and now live in Provence so I don't have a clue of how this works and I am rather facinated.

 

[LBrown59]

Boy are you lucky! An endless source of free gas? I am envious. Did it come with the house or something? Was it there when you bought? Does some company put in the well and then leave it, abandon it? Did you drill it? How do you end up with a gas well? I was from Wisconsin and now live in Provence so I don't have a clue of how this works and I am rather facinated.

We have a frend that has free gas.
Some of the older farms in this county have gas wells that were drilled years and years ago.
If I had free gas I'd buy a Nat. Gass powered Gen and have free gas and elect both.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

man, this is an old thread........i wasn't paying attention...