Dakota Gasification : Additive provides safer work environment at Dakota Gas

The project should be complete and operating by mid-January.

A project at Dakota Gasification Company's Great Plains Synfuels Plant to improve hydrogen sulfide (HS) potential exposure while working with tar oil loading, called tar oil HS Scavenger, is nearing completion.

Dakota Gas Process Operations Manager Trinity Turnbow said that adding a solution that breaks the HS bond permanently reduces HS in the headspace of the railcars used to transport tar oil to customers.

'Two of our customers are currently trying a version of the solution from the same supplier,' Turnbow said. 'When they showed success in using the solution, we thought it would be more effective to add it at the Synfuels Plant before tar oil is loaded and sent out.'

In mid-November, a team of Synfuels Plant employees met with Baker Hughes representatives to explore the options that were available. 'We asked them to better the solution they were already using, and they did just that,' Turnbow said.

Baker Hughes provided a report and proposed contract in mid-December.

'We are currently paying someone else to do what we will now be able to do ourselves right here on plant site,' Turnbow said. 'We will be using the latest and greatest technical chemical and providing a safer work environment for our employees by reducing their potential exposure to HS while they are loading railcars.'

The project should be complete and operating by mid-month. Synfuels Plant Manager Dale Johnson credits employees for their focus on getting the project done quickly, safely, and properly designed.