ELGi and IESS Develop Compressed Air Solution

The Bakken Formation is a region in North Dakota with some of the largest oil and natural gas deposits in the United States — more than 17,000 producing oil wells. Compressed air is essential to companies operating there because it powers natural gas compressors, actuate instruments, and the air supply for oil well applications.

In early 2024, the U.S. government announced a new regulation to ban flame-off applications, the common practice of burning off excess natural gas that is released during extraction. This regulatory change compels companies to upgrade compressed air systems to capture and use this excess gas instead of burning it.

In response, Industrial Equipment Sales & Services (IESS) designed and implemented the “Air Source One” package currently being used in the Bakken Formation. This system incorporates the ELGi EN Series rotary screw compressors, which are installed in a 6 ft x 12 ft enclosure that includes an integrated heater and ventilation system. The compressors are compact enough to enable a regenerative air dryer to be mounted directly on the compressor tank. This system then compresses and re-injects excess natural gas back into the oil reservoir. This combination provides a compact and durable all-in-one package that allows placement near oil well sites.

IESS selected the ELGi EN Series compressors for the task because of their compact size, serviceability, and the ability to mount a dryer package directly on the compressor, which saves already limited space. The selected compressors range in power from 4 hp to 20 hp, with a capacity of up to 150 psi. A duplex compressor can also be used for redundancy. This is important, considering their remote locations that don’t allow for quick maintenance.

"With the new regulations, our Air Source One system with ELGi air compressors becomes critical for companies to continue to operate efficiently, while following environmental standards," said Randy Schlossin, sales representative at IESS.