Prospects for the use of gas-piston power plants at oil fields of Ukraine

Abstract

The paper examines the prospects for the application of gas piston power plants at Ukrainian oil fields under conditions of insufficient generating capacity and increased risks of damage to centralized power infrastructure. The objective of the study is to substantiate the technical and economic feasibility of implementing gas piston units to ensure uninterrupted power supply for oil and gas production and treatment facilities using associated petroleum gas as fuel. The research includes an analysis of the current state of power supply in oil and gas enterprises, a review of international experience in distributed generation, and a comparative assessment of gas piston and gas turbine units in terms of capacity range, efficiency, operational flexibility, and investment costs. Particular attention is paid to autonomous (“islanded”) operation, parallel operation with the grid, and cogeneration schemes providing simultaneous production of electricity and heat. Technical and economic parameters of implementing gas piston power plants for three typical oil production facilities are presented, including capital expenditure structure, installed capacity, generator voltage selection, and the impact of associated gas composition on rated output reduction. The results demonstrate that for capacities up to 5–10 MW, gas piston units are technically more efficient and economically preferable compared to gas turbines, providing electrical efficiency of 35–43% and total cogeneration efficiency up to 90%. It is shown that the use of distributed generation based on associated petroleum gas can reduce the cost of electricity by 2–3 times compared to grid tariffs, with a payback period of 2–4 years. Implementation of such solutions enhances energy security, minimizes the risk of production shutdowns, and reduces hydrocarbon losses through efficient utilization of associated gas.