Driving Sustainability: Kinitics Automation Leads in Zero Methane Emission Reduction Technology

By Ryan Gibson, P.Eng. – Kinitics Automation 

As countries across the globe navigate the path of environmental sustainability, the fight to curb methane emissions stands as a crucial frontier for innovation. At the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference, nations put their focus on methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Leading the charge, the Canadian and U.S. governments announced ambitious plans to significantly cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector to meet the Global Methane Pledge. Canada’s proposed strategy aims to reduce oil and gas sector emissions by 75% from 2012 levels by 2030, paralleling the U.S.’s commitment to a near 80% reduction over the same period.

The drive towards stringent methane regulations and standards is not just an environmental objective; it is also a catalyst for industry innovation and competitiveness. In response to stringent governmental targets, the Emissions Testing Centre (ETC), a program supported by the NGIF and funded in part by Prairies Economic Development Canada, supports research and development aimed at reducing methane emissions.

Kinitics Automation plays a central role in the ETC program, which engages with cleantech startups to test and validate advanced technologies focused on methane reduction. By emphasising practical applications and results, the program seeks to drive forward the development and adoption of technologies that can significantly impact environmental management practices. This initiative fosters a collaborative environment that merges academic research with industry expertise to rigorously evaluate and refine these technologies.

 

Kinitics Automation’s Role in Advancing Emissions-Free Valve Actuation Solutions

The ETC program has been instrumental in advancing Kinitics Automation’s development and commercialization of a control valve actuator, a solution born from the collaboration between Kinitics, the NGIF Accelerator, and academic partners. This actuator, utilizing shape memory alloy (SMA) technology, was designed in response to new methane regulations, offering the natural gas industry an innovative alternative to traditional electric and pneumatic systems.

The SMA actuation technology developed by Kinitics Automation features a mechanical spring that ensures reliable valve closures during emergency events such as power outages or signal loss, a critical feature for remote or harsh environments often encountered in the natural gas industry. Moreover, the design incorporates a single moving part for actuation, which translates to significantly reduced wear and maintenance, addressing the drawbacks of complex, maintenance-intensive traditional motorized actuators and pneumatic systems. Moreover, the design incorporates a single moving part for actuation, which translates to significantly reduced wear and maintenance, addressing the drawbacks of complex, maintenance-intensive traditional motorized actuators and pneumatic systems.

Emissions Testing Center Field Demonstration

Three Kinitics KVA38 electric actuators were installed operating a three-phase separator at a remote natural gas wellsite near Edson, Alberta owned by Tourmaline. Two actuators were installed to operate the water and condensate dump valves, while a third acted as the backpressure control actuator. The actuators operated nearly continuously for 4 months, exceeding the original test period of 3 months. Over 10,000 actuations were recorded with no unintentional shutdowns caused by Kinitics equipment, and approximately 6500m³ of natural gas produced.

 

The dump valves were actuated according to a simple on/off command signal, opening to release fluid when a preset maximum level was reached within the separator tank, and closing once fluid dropped below a minimum level. When an “open” command is received, the KVA38 opens the valve fully until the “open” signal is removed, at which point the KVA38 returns the valve to the closed position. Dump frequency and duration is dependent on current well conditions. The water dump actuator accumulated 4,406 cycles, while the condensate actuator accumulated 5,787 cycles, for a total of 10,193 cycles by Kinitics actuators during the demonstration period.

Figure 2: Sample signal recording of commands to the condensate dump valve actuator, 24hrs.

 

The backpressure control valve actuator was controlled in a metering mode, receiving commands via Modbus RTU and providing real-time feedback to the site computer. Positional commands between 0% and 100% were given based on the desired pressure differential between the separator tank and downline. The KVA38 provided feedback to operators on actual position, actuator status, runtime, and current faults, amongst other available data. The backpressure control actuator was brought into service before the dump valves, such that it accumulated 161 days of total operation between March 21 and September 20. The actuator was taken offline intermittently due to site operations unrelated to Kinitics products. 

Figure 3: Summary of site operations over the demonstration period

The successful demonstration of Kinitics Automation’s KVA38 electric valve actuator at the ETC opens up new options for Canada’s energy producers to reduce harmful methane emissions, comply with provincial and federal regulation, and further their own ESG initiatives. This trial further showcases the value of programs such as the ETC that merge academic research with industry expertise to innovate and qualify new technologies. 

The Road Ahead: Kinitics Automation’s Vision for the Future

The pathway of environmental sustainability is marked by innovation and strengthened through strategic collaborations. The recent announcement in February 2024 of CAD $1.95 million in funding by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) to the NGIF Accelerator’s ETC emphasizes a significant commitment to clean technology advancement. This funding enhances the ETC program’s capabilities, supporting innovators like Kinitics Automation in developing technologies that contribute to more sustainable operations.

Highlighting the initiative, Federal Minister Dan Vandal emphasized its alignment with the government’s aim for a Net-Zero economy by 2050, offering cleantech firms like Kinitics a platform to perfect and market their emissions reduction solutions. As Kinitics Automation continues to advance its technological innovations, it remains focused on contributing to the global transformation towards sustainable energy.

As the industry advances toward the 2030 and 2050 environmental goals, the interface between innovation, strategic funding, and regulatory frameworks becomes increasingly critical. The collaboration between government bodies, companies like Kinitics Automation, and industry alliances such as the NGIF Accelerator’s ETC program exemplifies a unified approach to achieving methane emission reductions. This collective effort not only moves the natural gas industry towards environmental compliance but also positions Kinitics Automation as a leader in the global transformation for sustainable energy.

This case study was written by Ryan Gibson, Product Manager; and Adam Nguyen, Automation Solutions Specialist – Kinitics Automation Limited.