Natural Gas Fuels Well Stimulation Fleets, Lowers Costs

PITTSBURGH—As shale operators move toward producing what could be more than 7.3 million barrels of oil and nearly 70 billion cubic feet of gas per day from seven major U.S. shale regions in July, thoughts remain on sustaining lower costs and reducing emissions.

Some companies have turned to natural gas, instead of diesel, to fuel electric fracturing fleets to do just that. The move comes with the added benefits of reduced site footprints and quieter operations among others, according to Chris Combs of Evolution Well Services, a Texas-based company that provides 100% natural gas-fueled pressure pumping equipment powered electrically.

Combs spoke recently during Hart Energy’s DUG East conference and exhibition about some of the benefits of using field gas to power equipment, specifically with Evolution’s patented technology that uses a mobile-gas turbine generator—a General Electric LM2500+G4 that produces 35 MW or 46k HHP.