Incorporating cross compression into utility construction project plans is a forward-thinking strategy that reduces the potential environmental impact of necessary infrastructure installation and maintenance. Greenville Utilities recently affirmed their commitment to the protection of the environment by partnering with Versiv Solutions to include cross compression on the Memorial Drive Bridge project.

The Memorial Drive Bridge gas main relocation project was a 1.2 mile installation of 8-inch pipeline completed in the Eastern North Carolina region for Greenville Utilities. Greenville Utilities Commission provides electric, water, sewer and natural gas services to the City of Greenville and 75% of Pitt County in North Carolina, serving 165,000 customer connections.

The project consisted of replacing a section of the current pipeline that was attached to the Memorial Drive Bridge, a vital transport link.

By using Versiv’s cross compression solution, Greenville Utilities was able to minimize environment impact during the project by capturing and recycling methane from a section of the pipeline that needed to be isolated in order to be safely worked on. In just 90 minutes of cross compression time, the total accumulated methane saved during this process equates to the following:

• 60% of a home’s use of energy for a year
• 5,750 pounds of coal burned
• 1.2 passenger vehicles driven for a year
• 6.8 acres of U.S. forest preserved

This project demonstrates that municipal utilities can have significant impact in reducing methane emissions by using innovative technology and take steps forward to protect the environment during needed repair and replacement of natural gas infrastructure.