BHE Compression seals US patent for methane reduction system
BHE Compression Services – part of the Berkshire Hathaway group – received a patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office for its system that prevents methane and carbon emissions from its gas compressor installations, the company said on March 3.
The system limits emissions caused by combustion in BHE's CleanMachine compressor packages, which first entered field operation in late 2020. In what company officials say is a first for a midstream product, CleanMachine compressors are certified by the oil and gas ratings and analytics company TrustWell. The compressors have reduced methane emissions at their installations by 46%, and CO2 emissions by more than 17%.
BHE has an international patent application underway and will seek additional US protections for elements of the product. The Houston-based startup says its technology contains state-of-the-art controls, large horsepower-drivers and compressor packages from leading supplier Ariel Corporation.
Its founders previously launched TCB Energy Services, a contractor focused on compression, engineering and health, safety and environment services.