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| Financing Solutions to Reduce Natural Gas Flaring and Methane Emissions
The Methane Guiding Principles, a voluntary partnership of oil and gas companies with 22 signatories at the time of writing, has identified best practices for methane emission reduction in eight areas, summarized in table 1.6. The partnership also published best-practice guides, which provide a summary of current known mitigations, costs, and available technologies to help those responsible for developing methane management plans.14 In general, methane emissions can be significantly reduced by implementing a series of technical and operational improvements to oil and gas activities. For instance, Beck et al. (2020) and the IEA (2020a) mention instrument air systems to replace pneumatic controllers to reduce venting, vapor recovery units installed on crude oil and condensate storage tanks, introducing leak detection and repair programs to significantly cut fugitive emissions, and applying the best available
TABLE 1.6
Methane Guiding Principles: Best practices for methane emissions reduction
PRIORITY AREA
BEST PRACTICES
Measurement and reporting of GHG emissions
• Develop a standardized industry-level data management system.
Engineering design and construction
• Use electric, mechanical, or instrument air-powered equipment where possible (including pneumatic controllers, pumps, and engines). • Have centralized and consolidated facilities where possible. • Use pipelines for liquid and gas takeaway. • Recover natural gas for beneficial use where possible. • Flare or combust natural gas when recovery is not possible. • Consider the use of alternative low-emission equipment/process. • Consider the use of alternative low-maintenance equipment/process.
Flaring
• • • • • • •
Keep an accurate inventory of flaring activity. Prevent flaring by designing systems that do not produce waste gases. Recover waste gases as products to be sold. Inject waste gases into oil or gas reservoirs. Find alternative uses for flared gases, such as generating electricity. Improve the efficiency of combustion when gases have to be flared. Track progress in reducing flaring and venting.
Energy use
• • • • •
Keep an accurate inventory of where natural gas is used as fuel. Use electrical power or pneumatic power using compressed air or nitrogen. Improve the energy efficiency of gathering operations and other equipment. If natural gas needs to be used, improve the efficiency of fuel combustion. Track progress in reducing fuel use.
Equipment leaks
• • • •
Keep an accurate inventory of emissions from equipment leaks. Conduct a periodic leak detection and repair program. Consider using alternative monitoring programs. Replace or eliminate components that persistently leak.
Venting
• • • • •
Keep an accurate inventory of venting activity. Alter physical systems and operating practices to reduce venting. Recapture gas where possible. If methane needs to be released, flare it rather than venting it. Track progress in reducing venting.
Pneumatic devices
• Keep an accurate inventory of pneumatic controllers and pumps powered by natural gas. • Replace pneumatic devices with electrical or mechanical devices where practical. • If pneumatic devices are used, eliminate emissions by using compressed air rather than natural gas to power them. • If using devices powered by natural gas is the best option, replace high-bleed controllers with alternatives with lower emissions. • Include pneumatic devices in an inspection and maintenance program, and report emissions from these devices in an annual inventory. (continued next page)
