Once
Marcellus Shale gas wells are drilled and fracked, the next step
is laying a network of gas gathering pipelines and installing
compressor stations to move the natural gas to market. Since
Marcellus natural gas is a "wet gas" with water and gas liquids
(propane, butane, hexane, etc) it is necessary to dehydrate the gas
and process it further before transporting it to major
gas
pipelines and end users. The gas liquids are very profitable to
the processing companies.
Here we see photos of the Lowry Compressor Station, one of a
new network of MarkWest compressor stations being constructed
in Marcellus Shale country. These compressor stations often start
out with one or two compressors, and shortly thereafter are expanded
to four or five 1340 horsepower compressors that run on natural gas.
Major issues surrounding these sorts of
compressor stations involve air pollution, noise that includes
loud pressure releases, and sight pollution. This station is located
next to
Cross Creek Park and Cross Creek Lake, one of the premier
Washington County parks and fishing lakes.
LOWRY
COMPRESSOR STATION
Mandatory PPE Required on this Site: Flame retardant clothing
Foot Protection
Hearing Protection
Eye Protection
Head Protection MARKWEST - LIBERTY MIDSTREAM & RESOURCES LLC
Early construction of the Lowry Compressor
Station
near
Cross Creek Park
Lowry Compressor Station
during
winter of 2009-2010
FLIR video of Lowry
Compressor Station
May 3, 2012
Open flare at the Lowry
Compressor Station
in Hopewell Township
GP5-63-00947B: MarkWest Liberty Midstream and Resources, LLC
(1515 Arapahoe St., Tower 2, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80202-2126) on
December 2, 2011, received authorization for construction and
operation of sources and controls associated with a natural gas
production facility at the Lowry Compressor Station located in
Hopewell Township, Washington County.
GP9-63-00947B: MarkWest Liberty Midstream and
Resources, LLC (1515 Arapahoe St., Tower 2, Suite 700, Denver,
CO 80202-2126) on December 2, 2011, received authorization for
construction and operation of two (2) diesel-fired engines for
emergency power generation at the Lowry Compressor Station located
in Hopewell Township, Washington County.
WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
TAXES
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
PARCEL NUMBER: 350-006-00-00-0003-00A
Deed Book - Page:
NAME:
MARKWEST LIBERTY MIDSTREAM & 127368
NAME:
RESOURCES LLC
1515 ARAPAHOE ST TWR 2 STE 200
DENVER CO 80202
LOCATION:
343 WILLOW RD AVELLA
DISTRICT:
350 (HOPEWELL)
PROPERTY TYPE:
Industrial
DESCRIPTION:
LOWRY COMPRESSOR STATION
ELEC/ COMPRESSOR BLDGS
YEAR
CODE
LAND
BUILDING
TOTAL
2011
1
0
28,323
28,323
2010
1
0
28,323
28,323
2009
1
0
0
0
Billing History
Year
Control
Billed
Date
Due @ Face
2010
35010-1/ 3
$705.24
6/7/2010
$0.00
Open flare burning at the Lowry facility
Large tanks on site
Pipelines entering and leaving the facility
Open flare
Expansion during winter
2010-2011
October 7, 2011 - PA DEP
Permit issued Dec. 2,
2011