Black Swan commissions Nig Creek gas processing plant

Black Swan Energy Ltd. has opened its Nig Creek gas processing plant in the Montney area of northeast British Columbia.

The 100-MMcfd plant—which has the potential to add more than 80 MMcfd of incremental raw processing capacity—will deliver natural gas via pipelines to North American markets and export associated propane production to the Far East, Black Swan said.

Construction and design of the plant incorporated numerous green initiatives, including installation of waste-heat recovery to lowers emission by 10,000 tonnes/year.

Operationally, a liquids pipeline is under construction as well to reduce trucking, contributing to a further reduction of 1,500 tpy of carbon dioxide equivalent, Black Swan said.

Well sites flowing into the plant also have been designed to minimize environmental impacts by incorporating solar panels, which contribute to greenhouse gas reductions of about 600 tpy per well site.

With the Nig Creek plant onstream, Black Swan said its production is on target to achieve yearend guidance of 40,000-42,000 boe/d having already achieved a record rate of 42,600 boe/d on Oct. 3.

Late last year, Black Swan completed a previously announced joint-venture arrangement with AltaGas Ltd. whereby AltaGas acquired 50% ownership in certain Black Swan existing and future natural gas processing plants (OGJ Online, Sept. 27, 2018).

In addition, AltaGas and Black Swan entered into a long-term agreement for Black Swan to use AltaGas processing capacity on a cost-of-service basis at the plants, as well as transportation and marketing agreements, with Black Swan to continue acting as operator the plants, Black Swan said in an Oct. 2, 2018, release.

Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].