Abstract: A system for reducing methane emissions from a natural gas or oil wellhead. Some oil and gas wells leak a flow of natural gas, referred to as the surface casing vent flow. The system includes a catalytic oxidizing assembly operably connectable to the wellhead and configured to receive the surface casing vent flow therefrom. The catalytic oxidizing assembly includes a catalyst pad heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the methane in the surface casing vent flow to carbon dioxide in the presence of oxygen. When the temperature and flow rate of the methane is sufficient, the heat generated by the exothermic oxidative reaction of the methane is sufficient to maintain the surface temperature of the catalyst pad, allowing the system to deactivate the heating element. The system can further include a separator configured to isolate a gas component of a surface casing vent flow when liquid is present.

Abstract: A system for reducing methane emissions from a natural gas or oil wellhead. Some oil and gas wells leak a flow of natural gas, referred to as the surface casing vent flow. The system includes a catalytic oxidizing assembly operably connectable to the wellhead and configured to receive the surface casing vent flow therefrom. The catalytic oxidizing assembly includes a catalyst pad heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the methane in the surface casing vent flow to carbon dioxide in the presence of oxygen. When the temperature and flow rate of the methane is sufficient, the heat generated by the exothermic oxidative reaction of the methane is sufficient to maintain the surface temperature of the catalyst pad, allowing the system to deactivate the heating element. The system can further include a separator configured to isolate a gas component of a surface casing vent flow when liquid is present.