Is Your Vapour Recovery Unit Working?

A vapour recovery unit can be running without recovering as much gas as expected. To assess its performance, operators need to look beyond whether the compressor is on. They need to know how much gas it moves, when it operates and what conditions cause it to stop.

For an oil and gas facility, the starting point is a clear picture of normal operation. Tank activity and vapour generation change throughout the day, so a low flow reading does not always indicate a problem. The question is whether the unit captures vapour when the site produces it.

Check Recovered Gas Flow

Where flow measurement is available, compare the amount of gas recovered with production and tank activity. A reading taken during a quiet period will tell a different story from one taken during a tank transfer. Trends over several comparable operating periods are more useful than a single number.

If recovered flow falls while site activity stays much the same, investigate what has changed. Have new tanks been connected? Has the gas destination changed? Are the inlet or discharge conditions different from those recorded when the package was commissioned? These questions can help narrow down why performance has shifted.

Check Operating Hours and Shutdowns

A unit may recover gas effectively while it runs but spend too much time offline to meet the facility’s goals. Review operating hours alongside shutdown and alarm records. Repeated short interruptions matter, even when the package restarts quickly.

Note when shutdowns happen. If they regularly follow a tank transfer or a change elsewhere in the facility, that pattern gives the service team more to work with than an alarm code alone. Maintenance records can also show whether the same issue has returned after previous repairs.

When evaluating a vapour recovery unit for the oil and gas industry, ask how its actual operating time compares with the hours it was expected to run. That comparison helps distinguish a capacity concern from an availability concern.

Check Pressure and Liquid Handling

Suction and discharge pressure readings help explain whether the package is operating under suitable conditions. The unit must draw vapour from its source without creating unsuitable conditions at the tanks, then deliver the gas to a system that can accept it. A change at either end can affect recovery.

Liquid handling deserves attention as well. Components of a hydrocarbon vapour stream can condense before compression. If liquid-related alarms or shutdowns recur, review what is happening at the inlet and how collected liquids are being managed. Eagle identifies inlet conditions and liquid management as important factors in reliable VRU operation. 

Flow, operating hours, pressures and alarm history tell a fuller story when they are reviewed together. At Eagle Pump & Compressor, we can help you assess those records against your site conditions and determine what your vapour recovery unit needs to perform as intended.