INTRODUCTION

Compressed gases present a unique hazard. Depending

on the particular gas, there is a potential for simultaneous
exposure to both mechanical and chemical hazards.
Gases may be:
 Flammable or combustible
 Explosive
 Corrosive
 Poisonous
 Inert
 or a combination of hazards
 Gas Production
 Simple oil and gas reservoir may initially produce high volumes
of oil relative to gas, but as the oil production and reservoir
pressure decline, an increasing amount of gas may be
produced.
 Reservoir management may dictate producing oil first, using
the natural gas pressure to increase oil recovery rates.
 As the GOR (Gas to oil ratio) increases, reservoir pressure may
be too low for natural production, and without secondary
production methods, production will eventually cease from
the reservoir
Drilling
INTRODUCTION
If the gas is flammable, flash points lower than room
temperature compounded by high rates of diffusion present
a danger of fire or explosion.
Additional hazards of reactivity and toxicity of the gas,
as well as asphyxiation, can be caused by high
concentrations of even "harmless" gases such as
nitrogen.

Since the gases are contained in heavy, highly pressurized

metal containers, the large amount of potential energy
resulting from compression of the gas makes the cylinder a
potential rocket or fragmentation bomb.
 Natural Gas Home Verses
Vehicle
Home:
Natural gas line coming to home carries around 60 psi
Pressure at which the natural gas enters the burner of
your furnace is around ¼ psi.
Storage Cascade:
stored on site for delivery at 3600 psi.
Vehicle:
Pressure reduced around 26 to 38 psi when it enters the
fuel injectors
Compressor unit
 CNG Storage Vessels
3 Distinct Categories
 Plain Metal Cylinder
 Fiber Wrapped Metal Cylinder
 Composite
storage cascade
 Basic Types of Tank Designs

 Type 1 
 All metal (aluminum or steel) ‐ Cheap but heavy

 Type 2 
 Metal liner reinforced by composite wrap (glass or
carbon fiber)
 Liner takes 50% and composite takes 50% of the stress
caused by internal pressurization
 Less heavy, but more cost
 Type 3 
 Metal liner reinforced by composite wrap around entire tank (“full
wrapped”)
 Liner takes small amount of the stress
 Light‐weight, but expensive

 Type 4 
 Plastic gas‐tight liner reinforced by composite wrap around entire tank
(“full wrapped”)
 Entire strength of tank is composite reinforcement
 Light‐weight, but expensive
 Which design to use depends on the need to reduce
weight and economy
 All 4 designs have equivalent safety, as all must
meet the same requirements and standards.
 Testing CNG Dispensers

 Two methods to test CNG dispensers but only one is

accepted by weights and measures at this time
 First method is by using a Master Meter and the
second and approved method is by Gravimetric
Testing
 SAFETY NOTES
 Highly flammable – can be ignited by heat, flames,
sparks or other sources of ignition (e.g., static
electricity, etc.) Set up scale outside of classified area
(beyond 5 feet from hose connection to dispenser)
 Product is under high pressure (3600 psi)
 Skin may freeze if exposed to product and result in
frostbite
 CNG is normally treated with an odorant – smell for
leaks – Pay particular attention to the test tank under
high pressure
 Equipment List

 The following criteria should be considered when

selecting equipment for the test
 Scale
 Mass Standards
 Test Cylinder
Scale
scale capacity must
be sufficient to hold
the total weights
including the test
vessel, product, cart
and possibly chocks
 Mass Standards
sufficient test
weights should be
available to test
reference scale
 Test Cylinder
Should be of
sufficient size to
conduct all required
tests
 Gasoline Conversion Factor

 “1 Gasoline Liter Equivalent (GLE) is Equal to 0.678

kg of Natural Gas” or
 “1 Gasoline Gallon Equivalent (GGE) is Equal to
5.660 lb of Natural Gas”
Types of compressed gas cylinders:
Lecture Bottles
Small Cylinder
5lb. Bottle
Large Cylinder
Liquid Bulk Cylinders
 IDENTIFICATION
All gas lines leading from a compressed gas supply should
be clearly labeled to identify the gas, the laboratory or area
served, and the relevant emergency telephone numbers.
 HANDLING & USE
 Regulators are gas specific
and not necessarily
interchangeable!
 Always make sure that the
regulator and valve fittings
are compatible.
 HANDLING & USE
All compressed gas cylinders, including lecture-size
cylinders, must be returned to the supplier when
empty or no longer in use.
 TRANSPORTATION OF CYLINDERS
1. Cylinders should never be rolled
or dragged.

2. When moving large cylinders,

they should be strapped to a
properly designed wheeled cart
to ensure stability.

3. Only one cylinder should be

handled (moved) at a time.
 LPG
 Alternative method to transport methane from the
producer to the consumer
 Methane (C1H4) gas is cooled to –161.5° C (–260° F)
 converting its gaseous phase into an easily
transportable liquid whose volume is approximately
600 times less than the equivalent volume of methane
gas
LPG process
 LPG chain: Liquefaction

Plants
Gas received into the LNG facility must be free from impurities and
as close to pure methane as possible.
 Any other components, such as CO2 and sulfur, may damage the
refrigeration units or decrease the quality of the produced LNG, or
both.
 Liquefaction and transport require special treatments
and are highly capital intensive
 Liquefaction and transport of natural gas is at -162 Deg
C - requires specially insulated tanks in the ships
 Removal of all impurities is necessary for liquefaction
which requires an elaborate pretreatment plant
 Receiving side also should have re-vapourising the LPG
to its gaseous form.