Natural Gas Experts

[pilot-werx]

I am hoping that there is a natural gas expert that visits the forum. For those that have not read down through my "New Dairy" thread (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/233365-new-dairy.html), I am in the process of building a new butter manufacturing plant for our family business. Bordering one side of our property is a natural gas line that I was hoping to be able to access. Is there anyone that has dealt with a similar situation? Is there any special permitting involved?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jveretto]

Depends on what kind of line it is. Is anyone else close by hooked to the line? If line is for transporting long distances, probably not.

 

[LazySusanFarms]

Your biggest concern will be pipe pressure. The regulator needed to reduce transmission pipe pressure to something usable can be fairly big and expensive. Check with the transmission company and your local utility.

 

[Egon]

You have to talk to your local gas supplier as to what is available and how much it cost's.:thumbsup:

You make your application and the Supplier will give you all the details and install all right up to the stub off at your place. At that point a certified technician will probably be require to complete your installation.

 

[Bird]

When I was doing gas leakage surveys, I found gas lines in town with pressure so low that no regulator was needed at the meter. On the other hand, I found one cross country line that was running 975 psi that day. Of course I was checking for leaks at the point the city had tapped into that line.

You have to talk to your local gas supplier as to what is available and how much it cost's

That's the only sensible thing to do.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

If it's a major transmission line you will need what they call a "farm tap".

I know this, because I took an 8 hour "pipeline safety" course yesterday.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Don't be surprised if you find that the pipeline company can't legally sell natural gas in your area because another company has the franchise from the government.

The MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION may, or may not, be a helpful source of information. Start here:
http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/natural_gas/choice-commercial.html

 

[Dr Dave]

This is what happens if you hit a 24', 900psi gas pipe line. KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports - HOME Natural gas pipeline explosion. These guys did not get a locate, they were trenching in drainage tile.

 

[pilot-werx]

The state has been no help. The line that borders the property is 30" in diameter and at 1450 psi. The reducing valve pricing and heaters to keep them from freezing should be interesting!

 

[Egon]

For home use you will not be tapping into a 30inch line.

You have to talk to the local Gas Utility Company.

If it's a transmission line no way you'd be able to tap into it!

Ever done a "Hot Tap" and just borrow some gas??:laughing:

 

[pilot-werx]

For home use you will not be tapping into a 30inch line.

You have to talk to the local Gas Utility Company.

If it's a transmission line no way you'd be able to tap into it!

Ever done a "Hot Tap" and just borrow some gas??:laughing:

The company who owns the line will allow me to tap into, however it will cost $400k just in engineering...

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Don't feel bad about that. In Oklahoma, a lot of the old oil and gas leases had a clause that allowed the farmer to use gas from wells for free for his house. Since then, the companies have disconnected most, if not all of those "domestic" taps, and provide free propane to the farmer instead. In the long run the cost of buying a tank and propane for the farmer is cheaper than keeping the tap in good working order, the cost of safety monitoring, lawyer's fees when there is an accident, etc.

Local propane dealer told one of his best clients was a major oil company that had replaced all (hundreds) of it's domestic pipeline taps with propane tanks for the farmers that had a free use clause in their lease. Propane tank is much safer than a tap into a high pressure line.

Now in the old days, the big boys told me (never did it myself) that you could take the smallest drill bit you could find, drill into the pipeline and put an open bucket under the hole. The escaping gas would condense, and drip gas would fill the bucket, which in turn could be used to fill your gas tank, thereby leaving more money for beer. I suspect it would take a fair amount of beer to get enough courage to retrieve the bucket when it was full.

 

[Egon]

Sorry about the misinformation on access to the 30 in. line. In the areas I am familiar with there would be no access

Now in the old days, the big boys told me (never did it myself) that you could take the smallest drill bit you could find, drill into the pipeline and put an open bucket under the hole. The escaping gas would condense, and drip gas would fill the bucket, which in turn could be used to fill your gas tank, thereby leaving more money for beer. I suspect it would take a fair amount of beer to get enough courage to retrieve the bucket when it was full.

What you'd have had in the bucket would be propane, butane and pentane. Nowadays all that should be removed at the first processing station the natural gas gets to. There would also be a tendency for a too small hole to freeze up.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Egon, I think we are saying the same thing - no access to a tap today.

 

[Egon]

I always figured Hot Taps were best done by others and watched from a great distance!:thumbsup:

But you sure can get some folks upset by saying you can carry Propane in an open bucket!:thumbsup: