NRG’S APPROACH
We do it with professionals with a sound career path in the mining and oil and gas industry. And we do it responsibly, focusing on both successful business results and consideration of the environment in which we operate and the efficient use of resources.
CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT
We contribute to responsible economic and social development through job creation and staff training. We already generate more than 700 direct jobs, mainly in the provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén and Buenos Aires, among which are mining operators, production plant operators, truck drivers, specialists in quality and laboratory management, arena on location, administrative staff and management team.
The operation of the NRG plant also contributes to the development of regional economies by working in the value chain with various suppliers and local enterprises.
RATIONAL AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF WATER
The rational use of water is a central element in the strategy of environmental preservation and responsible development of NRG Argentina. For this purpose, all the washing plants have state-of-the-art treatment plants and water recirculation systems, which allow to recover up to 90% of the volume used.
On the other hand, we recover water from beneath the wet-cutting basin, which is then reused in the process.
NRG Argentina s performance indicator, measured in liters of fresh water per ton of finished product, is thus one of the lowest in our country.
USE OF GNC IN TRANSPORT TO REDUCE EMISSIONS
Considering the large volumes of sand required for fracture operations, it is necessary to transport significant amounts of raw material from the quarries to the processing plant, and of finished product from the storage silos to the wells.
In other countries, this is done by means of combination of truck and freight train. In our country, given the location of the Vaca Muerta formation and the place of origin of the material it is mainly done by truck.
At NRG we are pioneers in the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks. The company has its own fleet of CNG trucks with which it transports material both from the quarries to the plant and from the plant to the wells.
Both by reducing distances (for having quarries nearby) and by using CNG as fuel, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will be 85 to 95% compared to sands provided by other companies.
NRG Argentina s performance indicator measured in Greenhouse Gas emissions in relation to transport per ton of finished product is the lowest in our country and one of the lowest in the world.
AIR QUALITY THROUGH PARTICULATE MATTER CONTROL
During the process of sand drying and truck loading, it is advisable to capture the finest sand particles by means of a suction pump system and to place them in an enclosed area. At NRG, we have dedicated a great effort to optimize the plant engineering in order to minimize this aspect. For this purpose, we acquired a powerful system for the suction of suspended dust. Also the mobile silo system for pad handilng was designed by National Oilwell Varco (NOV) to guarantee water-tightness.
PAD HANDLING WITH EFFICIENT AND SAFE MOBILE SILOS
In our country, there are different alternatives for pad handling. The most traditional one is the use of bags of approximately 1.5 tons each. For a conventional fracture operation, where 300 to 800 bags are used, this is a feasible method. However, in a non-conventional operation it would imply the use of about 6,500 bags, which is not only expensive but slow and negative for the environment. For non-conventional reservoirs, bulk sand is preferably used.
We signed an exclusivity agreement with National Oilwell Varco company (NOV) for the supply of their SandBankTM mobile silos system. This system is gradually replacing sand-boxes in the United States because of its greater safety and lesser imprint on location. The design of the SandBankTM has the robustness and redundancy necessary to provide the highest operational efficiency and security in a service as critical as the supply of sand in the blender.
Each system consists of 6 silos and mechanisms for gravity unloading of hopper trucks in a shorter time than any other system. In addition it is completely enclosed, thus eliminating the problem of particulate matter.
EFFICIENT ENERGY CONSUMPTION
As part of our commitment to responsible development, we promote rational and efficient use of energy. The highest energy consumption in a frac sand processing plant is in the drying oven, and therefore its energy efficiency has a relevant impact on global consumption.
At NRG, we use the most efficient rotary drying oven in the market with a double feeding which reduces the exit temperature, and mixing systems that maximize the grains surface of exposure to heat,
thus optimizing the vaporization of water.
The main motors are equipped with soft starters and the air circuits have variable speed drives, so as to reduce electricity consumption to a minimum.
CNG trucks and the reduction of transport distances are other key factors in the energy efficiency of the entire process, not only because of fuel saving but also because of the reduction in engine wear, tire consumption, oil, among others.
NRG Argentina s performance indicator measured in energy consumed per ton of finished product is the lowest in our country.
GENERATION OF CLEANER SOURCES: RENEWABLE ENERGIES
At NRG, we will self-generate a fraction of our energy consumption through the installation of photovoltaic solar panels and thermal solar collectors. Through a staggered plan, we will increase the renewable contribution which will result in a reduction of the operations´ carbon footprint, as part of the commitment with environmental care.
NRG Argentina s performance indicator measured in renewable energy generated per ton of finished product will be the highest in our country.
