Brightmark RNG Holdings, a joint venture between Chevron USA Inc. and Brightmark Fund Holdings, has opened its Eloy Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) center, producing pipeline fuel by capturing methane from dairy operations.
Eloy RNG will produce RNG using anaerobic digesters at the Caballero Dairy farm in Arizona, Brightmark said April 10. Described as a circular technology, anaerobic digesters capture animal manure and convert it into RNG, fertilizer and water—all of which are recycled into the agricultural and energy systems for reuse.
“The Eloy circularity center’s beauty resides in its use of technology based on ambient temperature with the Arizona heat,” said Brightmark LLC CEO Bob Powell. “It presents an excellent opportunity for RNG to be generated in higher amounts, promoting lower-carbon intensity solutions.”
RNG is formed when contaminants such as CO2, water and hydrogen sulfide are removed from methane to elevate the gas into pipeline quality. RNG can be used in the same ways as fossil gas but has a much lower carbon intensity.
The facility, the JV’s first in southwest U.S., also uses solar heating for farm lagoons. The company said the manure expected to be processed at the circularity center will be equivalent to planting over 37,000 acres of forest annually.
“Moving to a future energy economy with lower carbon intensity requires ambitious goals, continuous innovation, and pragmatic solutions,” said Andy Walz, president of Chevron Americas Products. “Continued development in renewable natural gas projects creates new, lower carbon-intensity solutions for transportation, industry and customers.”
Recommended Reading
US Drillers Cut Oil, Gas Rigs for Third Week in a Row
2024-05-10 - Baker Hughes said oil rigs fell three to 496 this week, their lowest since November, while gas rigs rose one to 103.
EIA: Blame Associated Gas Volumes for Sticky Low NatGas Prices
2024-03-14 - Low natural gas prices are forcing U.S. producers to finally pump the brakes on what has been record production. But the pullback in drilling will have muted effects on a market already glutted with too much gas, federal experts say.
What's Affecting Oil Prices This Week? (May 6, 2024)
2024-05-06 - Stratas Advisors forecast that oil demand for 2024 will increase by 1.41 MMbbl/d in comparison to 2023 and that oil demand will increase by 810,000 bbl/d in comparison to 2Q23.
Oil Broadly Steady After Surprise US Crude Stock Drop
2024-03-21 - Stockpiles unexpectedly declined by 2 MMbbl to 445 MMbbl in the week ended March 15, as exports rose and refiners continued to increase activity.
US Leads Global Oil Production for Sixth Straight Year-EIA
2024-03-11 - The Energy Information Administration says it is unlikely that the record will be broken by another country in the near term.