Method for reducing hydrocarbon emissions

A method for reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds in petrochemical pipeline and plant operations associated with oil and gas production, refining and distribution and petrochemical manufacturing and distribution, wherein the operation includes at least one system of piping and valves constructed and adapted to isolate a portion of the product from the main flow into an isolation vessel, said isolation vessel including at least one drain valve and at least one blowdown valve, said method comprising:

• capturing a quantity of the product within the isolation vessel;
• temporarily connecting the drain valve of said isolation vessel to a product recovery system block valve and connecting the blowdown valve to a nitrogen purge block valve as a safety precaution;
• causing a flow of volatile organic compounds isolated in the isolation vessel from the isolation vessel through the drain valve to a product recovery tank under a positive pressure;
• generating a negative pressure within the isolation vessel so as to completely purge said isolation vessel of any remaining product and move it into the product recovery tank, and
• disconnecting said product recovery tank from the isolation vessel with said quantity of product captured therein;
• wherein an internal combustion engine operatively connected to suitable pumping and purging means is the active source of any pumping or purging negative pressure.