Past event: Methane Emissions in Oil & Gas Operations: Regulations, Measurements, and Controls

A new, government-wide strategy for reducing methane emissions was released by the White House in March, 2014. The strategy focuses on landfills, agriculture, coal mines, and oil and natural gas activities and includes the release of several EPA "white papers" on various methane sources. Meanwhile, the State of Colorado has become the first state to require oil and gas companies to detect and reduce emissions of methane by adopting new rules that require leak detection and repair programs, monthly inspections of large emissions sources, and implementation of piping controls for natural gas emissions immediately after oil and gas production.

The vast expansion of hydraulic fracturing across the nation has added to concerns over methane emissions. On May 5, 2014, the "National Climate Assessment," a 3rd annual political document released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, predicts dire climate change consequences and targets the Oil & Gas sector, and hydraulic fracturing specifically, as major contributors based on extensive methane emissions.

Yet, these regulatory developments are occurring in a data vacuum because the amount of leakage of methane from Oil & Gas operations is not accurately known. Estimates vary dramatically. The EPA has published new proposed rules to require additional measurements of methane emissions from the Oil & Gas industry in Subpart W of the Part 98 GHG (greenhouse gas) Reporting Rules. Methane is now a hot topic. EPA assigns a carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of about 25 to methane emissions and some are concerned about even greater short-term atmospheric effects of methane. This has led the environmental groups to voice concerns that a leak rate above 1% of gross natural gas production would negate the GHG environmental benefits of switching to natural gas from coal for electricity generation and from other such fuel switching trends. Of course, methane is the primary ingredient in natural gas fuel and industry also has an economic incentive to minimize methane losses.

This course will review currently available information on regulatory trends concerning methane emissions, methane measurement methods and technologies, and on various emissions controls and costs to assist professionals and decision-makers confronting these issues. Participants in the course will gain knowledge in all aspects of methane emissions regulations and measurements and will be able to return to their organizations prepared to participate in planning for future compliance and increasing profits.

This seminar is Accredited for 6 CLE credits in Colorado, and submitted for CLE Accreditation in Texas.

What You Will Learn

1. Identify key terms in Oil & Gas technologies and methane emission controls
2. Describe various methane sources
3. Recognize the principles of methane emissions measurements and methods to estimate emissions
4. State the provisions of Subpart W proposed rules from the Environmental Protection Agency
5. Explain Colorado state rules and the EPA programs on methane emissions
6. Discuss emissions controls for Oil & Gas operations
7. Define essential elements required for planning and developing methane emissions measurement and control systems and programs for your organization