1800 - 1900 14 April 2021
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, 25 times that of CO2. Emissions by oil and gas Companies, under the UN-led Partnership and the new EU strategy, will need to be managed and reported for all stages of production, transmission and distribution.
The Fuellers were fortunate to have Freeman Peter Evans, who is responsible for setting BP’s strategic priorities for methane measurement, to present this 26th Fuellers conversation.
50% of world methane emissions are natural; agriculture and waste are major contributors and only about 14% comes from oil and gas activities. For production, flares and gas turbines are the main sources and a 0.3% intensity (emissions to production) is the target by 2023 and a new class of methane monitoring and measurement systems is being developed
the speaker
Peter Evans is the senior engineering product owner for methane measurement at BP where he is responsible for setting the strategic priorities for methane measurement. BP as part of its new strategy to be a net-zero company, aims to install, by 2023, methane measurement on major oil and gas processing sites, publish the data, and, where necessary, drive a reduction in methane intensity in operations.
He showed images of state-of-the-art sensing technology using drones, satellites, stationary site detectors and small pilotless aircraft which are being developed and tested by BP in partnership with UK and other Companies. A major programme of monitoring, troubleshooting and validation of methane emissions on a site-by-site basis is underway. Particular challenges are offshore rigs and the many thousands of remote US shale gas sites.
Fuellers discussed the degree of confidence that can be placed in industry generated measurement data, the need for consistent standards of measurement and reporting and independent confirmation. While oil and gas production are not the largest contributor to methane emissions, it is one of the easier to control and much of the technology being developed here will have application in other areas like agriculture and waste.
Access the YouTube video of the presentation here and the slides are available in the Fuellers Conversations page in the Members Area of the website.
M Green Liveryman
