Patent ID: 8382469

Claim:
A method for introducing fugitive combustible gases to a natural gas engine utilising natural gas as a fuel source and an associated fuel tank which holds said natural gas, said natural gas engine utilizing a combustible fuel and air mixture to power additional equipment mechanically connected to said natural gas engine, said method comprising providing a first principal fuel being natural gas from said fuel source via said fuel tank to said natural gas engine at a positive pressure substantially above atmospheric pressure, providing an air supply to said natural gas engine, adjusting the air or air-fuel mixture supply to said natural gas engine, collecting said fugitive combustible gases in an unconverted state from at least one device additional to said natural gas engine and said associated fuel tank, said at least one device being compressor cylinder packing, instrumentation, a starting gas source for said natural gas engine, a gas dehydration unit or a liquid petroleum carrying storage tank and adding said fugitive combustible gases in said unconverted state as a supplementary fuel at or near atmospheric pressure to said air supply during normal operation of said natural gas engine while controlling the quantity of said first principal fuel added to said natural gas engine, said fugitive combustible gases from said at least one device additional to said natural gas engine and said associated fuel tank being used as said supplementary fuel for said natural gas engine to reduce the quantity of said principal fuel required for said natural gas engine and providing power from said natural gas engine to said additional equipment mechanically connected to said natural gas engine, said fugitive combustible gases being vented to the atmosphere when said natural gas engine terminates operation.