Chief Gathering: Compressor Stations

Chief Gathering, the midstream subsidiary of Chief Oil & Gas, is committed to best industry practices in its gathering and transportation of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale.  A compressor station facilitates the transport of natural gas to homes and businesses by compressing and pressurizing the gas so it can travel through a pipeline to markets. They are a necessary part of the process in natural gas development. Early in the development of the Marcellus Shale, Chief made the commitment to enclose compressor stations in sound-minimizing buildings.  We place a high priority on noise mitigation.  Another priority for Chief is in the protection of air quality through the responsible construction and operation of natural gas compressor stations. 

Permit Process
Chief follows a strict application and permitting process and its facilities are subject to both Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality regulations.

In Pennsylvania, all gas production or recovery facilities must have an air quality permit before they can be constructed. Chief and all other Marcellus Shale operators are required to submit an application and obtain approval from DEP before building and again before permanent operation of a compressor station. The engines are tested by a third party to ensure compliance with all applicable air regulations and permit limits.

Safety Precautions
Chief Gathering compressor stations are built to meet or exceed all federal standards required by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Department of Transportation, which include:

• Flame detectors
• Overpressure protection
• Gas protection to prevent collection and ignition of gas
• Push button emergency stop at each gate

Noise
During construction, Chief analyzes the local township and county noise ordinances and works with local governments to ensure that our compressor stations meet all existing noise requirements and are not a hardship on nearby residents. 

Gas Composition
In Northeast Pennsylvania, the gas is “dry gas” which means that it is almost pure methane. It emits no harmful elements such as benzene or other hazardous air pollutants.

Chief also utilizes internal combustion engines that have strict controls for nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon, as well as visible emissions.

Transparency
Chief is committed to open and honest communications about our operations and we are dedicated to being a part of the local community and improving the communities where we operate. The safety of employees and community is a priority at all times. We constantly work to improve and minimize the impact our operations have on the environment.