Many of the methane emissions at an upstream wellsite can be attributed to a lack of leak detection devices and unexpected reactive maintenance. In the past, factors such as operational disruption and implementation costs discouraged efforts to address these issues, but this picture is changing as producers are now more interested in reducing emissions due to new regulations combined with the advancements in instrumentation technology.
Fortunately, these types of improvements are often self-financing in that they support increased production. Where and how to make such improvements is the topic of my article in World Oil, Reducing Methane Emissions in Upstream Oil and Gas.
Operating in oil and gas fields can be regarded as an opportunity to practice stewardship over a finite natural resource. The objective for any company should be delivering the most production while causing the least environmental impact. The challenge arises when a cost/benefit analysis indicates that the cost of reducing emissions is significantly more than the added revenue from any extra gas captured.
So, for a company wanting to make significant improvements, where should the process start? Let’s acknowledge that some projects may have minimal return, so cost/benefit analysis and project selection must be carried out scrupulously to create a clear picture.
For a company wanting to reduce unintended methane releases, leading questions include:
- Where are the methane emissions coming from, and how can they be reduced or eliminated?
- Have leaks developed due to deferred maintenance on equipment? If so, how can a company keep up with such tasks, given a limited workforce?
- Ensuring proper flare combustion is important to limit methane slip, but how is it possible to reduce the amount of flaring and venting in general?
- Can equipment upgrades be performed at a reasonable cost?
The article suggests various ideas, starting at the wellhead, extending to separators, and finally, tank & water management. A variety of Emerson products can help, including:
- Rosemount™ 3051S Pressure Transmitter to monitor wellhead pressures
- Rosemount SAM42 Acoustic Particle Monitor, Rosemount Wireless Permasense ET210 Corrosion and Erosion Monitoring System, and Plantweb Insight™ Non-Intrusive Corrosion Application to detect when sand content is eroding pipe interiors
- Micro Motion™ Coriolis Mass Flow Meter to monitor oil outflow from a separator
- Rosemount 708 Wireless Acoustic Transmitter and Plantweb Insight Pressure Relief Valve Application to make sure pressure relief valves are operating correctly and not releasing gas
- Rosemount 8705 Flanged Magnetic Flow Meter Sensor with a Rosemount 8732 Transmitter to monitor water flow from separators for external treatment
- Rosemount 925FGD Fixed Gas Detector to warn of natural gas leaks from processing equipment
There are more suggestions and deeper details in the article, but this should get discussions started. The idea is going for the biggest bang for the buck by addressing areas where the greatest gas loss can be stopped for the lowest cost.
Emerson has solutions to help reduce these emissions through improved measurement, for more precise real-time control and process optimization, and by supplying technologies capable of monitoring emissions. With these tools, it is possible to establish a baseline for tracking and demonstrating improvements, while reducing costs and increasing overall production, allowing sustainability to support the bottom line.
For more information, check out our latest eBook – Managing and Reducing Methane Emissions in Upstream Oil & Gas. Here you can also connect with one of our Emerson experts via live chat or a scheduled meeting to discuss any questions!
