What is a Compressor Station?

Compressor stations are vital to the overall operations of a natural gas pipeline, because they provide the pressure that helps propel the gas along the system. These compressor stations are typically placed roughly 50-75 miles apart to ensure system integrity, and are in most cases fueled by the pipeline retaining a portion of the gas shipped through the system. Although compressor stations are crucial, they have come under scrutiny over the years, not only because they are extremely noisy, but also because they are a source of carbon emissions. The U.S. Federal Regulatory Energy Commission helps address the former by placing noise limits on these stations, while the ESG movement is helping to address the latter. In recent quarters, several prominent U.S. interstate pipeline companies have announced projects that will electrify the compressor stations along their systems, which should help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the process.