Injection of steam in the oil field is extensively used for thermal enhancement of oil recovery in California. Steam producing generators located in the San Joaquin Valley of California are subject to the most stringent environmental regulations and demanding minimum NOx emissions. Today, hundreds of units operate with NOx emissions below 15 ppm. New restrictions require operation with less than 7 ppm, and in the immediate future, less than 5 ppm NOx emissions standards will be established.1
These new emissions limits have prompted users to actively search for reliable and economical combustion technologies that can exceed current and future environmental performance standards. New, energy-efficient ultra-low NOx (ULN) burner technology has demonstrated reliable operation on multiple once-through steam generator (OTSG) units in the Kern County Oil fields, doing so by achieving sub-5 ppm NOx emissions at excess air levels below 10% with exceptional combustion stability.