Compressor station operators know the balancing act: deliver clean, consistent fuel gas to keep engines running reliably while maximizing the value of every molecule that enters the system. Striking that balance, however, isn’t always easy.

Heavy hydrocarbons, or Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs), are often present in the fuel gas stream. Left untreated, they can derate engine performance by causing detonation and fouling, resulting in costly downtime. At the same time, those same NGLs represent real monetary value when recovered downstream at a natural gas processing plant and sold at more attractive prices.

Coldstream Energy’s MaCH₄™ NGL Recovery Solution (NRS) is built to solve this problem. The MaCH₄ solution uses proven Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology to reliably target separation of components from natural gas streams. By separating NGLs from fuel gas before they reach compressor engines, the MaCH₄ solution ensures a steady supply of clean, high-quality fuel gas while capturing valuable liquids for further monetization downstream. The result: improved reliability, reduced maintenance headaches, and a stronger bottom line.

In this article, we cover how the MaCH₄ solution works, why NGL separation matters, and how it stacks up against conventional fuel gas conditioning (FGC) options like J-T skids, residue lines, and mechanical refrigeration units (MRUs).

The Problem: Fuel Gas Isn’t Always Engine-Ready

Compressor engines perform best on lean, consistent quality natural gas but not all fuel gas streams are created equal. When the fuel stream contains heavier hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, butane, or natural gasoline, combustion becomes less predictable, engine efficiency drops, and maintenance issues accelerate. When burned in engines, these components can cause:

• Detonation and knocking – due to unstable combustion.
• Carbon buildup and fouling – leading to maintenance and downtime.
• Unpredictable energy content – making it hard to maintain consistent performance.

Operators are left with a difficult choice: do they risk engine reliability by sending untreated or lightly treated fuel gas to the engines, or do they run an expensive, permanent residue line? The MaCH₄ NGL Recovery Solution resolves this dilemma.

Separating Itself From The Competition: The MaCH₄ NGL Recovery Solution for Reliable Fuel, Captured Value

The Coldstream MaCH₄ NGL Recovery Solution is purpose-built to deliver two critical outcomes:

Here’s how it works:

The MaCH₄ solution takes in the raw natural gas stream and separates out the heavier hydrocarbons using proven and reliable PSA technology providing cryogenic-like separation.

The resulting lean fuel gas, free from excess NGLs, is fed to the compressor engines, ensuring stable combustion and reliable performance to avoid derating and maximizing facility capacity.

Meanwhile, the NGLs are separated as gaseous vapors and sent back to the compressor suction or suction header for recovery downstream at a natural gas processing facility, where they can be fractionated and sold into high-value markets for propane, butane, condensate, and other products.

The critical advantage of the MaCH₄ solution is that it avoids the “either-or” decision. Operators don’t have to choose between reliable engine operation and maximizing NGL value—they get both.

Comparing MaCH₄ to Conventional FGC Alternatives

Fuel gas conditioning (FGC) is not new. Operators have used a variety of methods to strip contaminants like water, sediment, and other substances to protect compressor engines. But not all solutions are equal in terms of effectiveness, economics, and operational efficiency.

We compare how the MaCH₄ solution stacks up against three common FGC technologies:

1. J-T Skids (Joule-Thomson Skids)

How they work: J-T skids lower the gas temperature by dropping pressure across a valve, causing heavier NGLs to condense out, resulting in a leaner gas stream with higher methane content.

Pros:

• Simple design with relatively low capital cost.
• Compact design, small operational footprint.
• Easy to install and operate.
• Can operate in remote locations.
• Some incremental NGL revenue.
• Relatively low maintenance (no reciprocating parts).

Cons:

• Efficiency is highly dependent on pressure drop, which isn’t always controllable.
• Limited in their ability to achieve consistent NGL separation, creating marginally improved engine performance from burning a fuel gas that is “just good enough.”
• Burning less than ideal fuel gas generates high relative emissions.
• The J-T effect reduces the temperature of all gases in the production stream, including water vapor, making them vulnerable to freeze ups resulting in unexpected downtime.
• Reliable operation usually requires additional investment in dehydrators, methanol injection systems and related methanol consumption, and/or additional compression capacity to make up for the inefficiencies.
• The reliability of methanol injection systems can be a single point of failure, for example if a methanol pump goes down, then so does the compressor station.
• Performance is dependent on ambient temperatures and available pressure drop and can only be used in high pressure systems (>1,000 psi).
• Often provide an inconsistent fuel gas quality, leaving engines exposed to swings in composition.

MaCH₄ Advantage: Unlike J-T skids, the MaCH₄ solution doesn’t rely on a narrow operating window to function. It delivers consistent separation and ensures that recovered NGLs are usable for monetization—not lost.

2. Residue Lines from Processing Plants

How they work: Some operators bypass the problem by sourcing lean residue gas from a nearby processing plant for use as compressor fuel.

Pros:

• Provides lean, pipeline quality fuel gas.
• Cleaner combustion for reduced emissions, compared to J-T gas.
• Maximizes compressor engine performance.

Cons:

• Availability is location-dependent—only an option if a processing plant is nearby and accessible.
• Time-consuming, including securing right of way and permits as needed, and expensive to install.
• Additional capital outlays may reduce overall ROI.
• Potential variability in gas quality and consistency.
• Ongoing costs for maintenance and repair, potential for creating fugitive emissions.
• Can not be moved when decommissioning a station.
• May result in additional costs if the gas gathering contract does not include a fuel allowance.

MaCH₄ Advantage: The MaCH₄ solution provides operators with the same lean, high-quality fuel gas as a residue line but does so on site in a relatively small package without refrigeration, eliminating the need for external supply contracts. At the same time, it enables downstream recovery of NGLs for added revenue, and can be moved to a new location when decommissioning a station.

3. Mechanical Refrigeration Units (MRUs)

How they work: MRUs use propane refrigeration cycles to chill the gas stream, condensing and removing heavier hydrocarbons.

Pros:

• Effective at separating NGLs.
• Can deliver consistent lean fuel gas for engines.

Cons:

• High capital and operating costs.
• Significant power consumption and maintenance.
• Complex systems with higher downtime risk compared to simpler alternatives.
• Requires on-site storage capacity for NGLs.
• Larger operational footprint compared to alternatives.

MaCH₄ Advantage: While MRUs do a good job of separating NGLs, they are expensive to build, operate, and maintain. The MaCH₄ solution achieves reliable separation without the complexity and cost burden of mechanical refrigeration.

What Separates Coldstream Energy From The Rest

The MaCH₄ NGL Recovery Solution isn’t just another piece of fuel gas conditioning equipment—it’s a value-creation tool. Here’s why it stands out:

Engine Protection: Reliable, lean fuel gas that keeps engines running smoothly, avoiding derating, costly detonation damage, and downtime.

Revenue Generation: Recovery of NGLs downstream ensures operators capture value that would otherwise be lost or wasted.

Operational Flexibility: Works effectively across a variety of inlet gas conditions, without depending on narrow pressure or temperature ranges.

Lower OPEX: Delivers results without the high operating costs of refrigeration systems.

Scalability: Adaptable to a wide range of midstream and upstream applications.

Primary Benefits

• Increase revenue by separating NGLs from the gas stream for later recovery downstream, contingent on your gas gathering contract terms.
• Eliminate engine derating for maximum efficiency and throughput.
• Reduce VOC emissions from gas powered engines by separating heavy hydrocarbons from the gas stream.

The Bottom Line

Every operator wants the same thing: reliable compression and maximum value from their natural gas stream. Conventional fuel gas conditioning solutions like J-T skids, residue lines, and MRUs solve parts of the problem, but they all come with trade-offs—be it inconsistent fuel quality, loss of NGL value, or high costs.

Coldstream’s MaCH₄NGL Recovery Solution eliminates those compromises. By delivering a steady stream of high-quality fuel gas to compressor engines while capturing and monetizing NGLs downstream, it helps operators optimize both performance and profitability.

In today’s competitive natural gas market, that’s more than just a technical solution—it’s a strategic advantage.

Ready to maximize the performance of your compressor stations? Contact us today to explore the right fuel gas conditioning solution for your site.