LAFAYETTE, La., Jan. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Field Energy Services (GFES), in conjunction with Apache Corporation, performed the first-ever operation of a Frac Pump utilizing field gas as its sole fuel source. 

The GFES Turbine Frac Pump was rigged up to a production well in the Granite Wash Field located in the Texas Panhandle and powered 100% by natural gas produced in the field. Typical North American fracturing rates and pressures were achieved in a simulated frac job, while maximizing fuel economy and maintaining full pump performance.

The simple field hook-up took natural gas from a producing well on the same location 150 feet from the Frac Pump, routed it through the field production units, through a GFES Natural Gas Conditioning Unit, then directly to the Turbine Frac Pump. The Turbine Frac Pump then pumped fluid from one frac tank to another, allowing the Company to measure rates, pressures and other important operations metrics.

Rick Fontova, President of Green Field Energy Services, stated, "This is a significant milestone both for Green Field Energy Services and the industry. To be able to completely power our fracturing pumps on field gas is outstanding and moves us one step further in our gasification vision. 

"Natural gas is plentiful and far more economic as a fuel source for our pumps than traditional diesel fuel and produces far fewer air emissions than diesel.  We are very pleased with the success of this frac simulation and we are now ready to use 100% natural gas to drive our entire frac spread," Fontova said.

"This operation was a major accomplishment," added Mike Bahorich, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Apache.  "The Green Field team demonstrated their turbine fracturing technology and ran their pumps on 100% field gas.  This is an important accomplishment in the path towards using natural gas as a fuel source in hydraulic fracturing operations, which is a major initiative for Apache."

Green Field Energy Services is the only fracturing services provider using turbine driven frac pumps that have the capability of operating on 100% natural gas. 

About Green Field
Green Field is an independent oilfield services company that provides a wide range of services to oil and natural gas drilling and production companies to help develop and enhance the production of hydrocarbons. The Company's services include hydraulic fracturing, cementing, coiled tubing, pressure pumping, acidizing and other pumping services.

In December 2010, Green Field became the first company to provide hydraulic fracturing services utilizing turbine-powered pumping equipment. The Company believes that its technology provides several advantages over the diesel-powered pumping equipment generally utilized in the industry, including significantly lower emissions, a smaller operating footprint, lower manufacturing costs, lower

SOURCE Green Field Energy Services