Page 58 - Apmor 2018

oil technology

New technology enables action

on CO2 emissions in the Oil &

Gas Industry By Lana Ginns

n International Energy Agency (IEA) The global approach supply is already virtually fossil free – Norway’s
report, “CO2 Emissions from Fuel regulation has significantly reduced emissions.
ACombustion Highlights,” estimated the Despite being one of the most energy
energy sector is responsible for more than intensive countries in the world, Kazakhstan
40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. To reduce the effect of routine implemented emissions regulation far later than
Gas flaring is one of the primary contributors gas flaring on the environment, Norway. In 2015 Kazakhstan committed to the
to industrial emissions from the sector, and emissions regulation has intensified ‘Kazakhstan Intended Nationally Determined
while gas is often flared for safety reasons, around in the world – but varies Contribution (INDC)’ which contains an
a large proportion is still flared as the main considerably between countries. unconditional target to reduce greenhouse
method of disposal for facilities that do not gas emissions by 15% below 1990 levels by
have the infrastructure to capture, transport 2030, including emissions from land use,
and monetise it. In the last five years the In 2016 Norway announced it was aiming land use change and forestry (LULUCF).
industry has made significant moves to to adopt a carbon neutral target for 2030.
reduce emissions, implementing IoT and As an early adopter of emissions regulation, In the United States the focus on reducing
cloud technologies to accurately collect emissions to air from the Norwegian oil and emissions is unclear. Despite a long tradition of
emissions information and provide insight that gas sector are regulated through several acts environmental legislation compared to other
will streamline emissions heavy processes. countries, the United States remains among
including: the Pollution Control Act and The the top flarers. Data released by the Global Gas
Now or never Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Act; the Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR) in 2016
Based on satellite data, it is estimated CO2 Tax Act (offshore) and the Petroleum Act. revealed an increase over the past five years in
more than 150 billion cubic metres (or 5.3 Combined with Norway’s bountiful hydropower the amount of gas flared at oil production sites
trillion cubic feet) of natural gas is released resources - that means the country’s electricity worldwide. The flaring increase was attributed
into the atmosphere each year
through natural gas flaring and
cold flaring (venting) operations.
In September 2016, Hawaii’s Mauna
Loa Observatory — the primary global
site for atmospheric CO2 monitoring
— recorded an atmospheric CO2
concentration of 400 parts per
million (ppm). In winter, atmospheric
concentrations are usually higher than
in the summer months when plants
absorb CO2 during photosynthesis.
A reading of 400 ppm in September
2016 — the month CO2 levels have
historically been at their lowest —
suggests the global atmospheric
concentration of CO2 may not fall
below 400 ppm again. Scientists
estimate that 40% or more of the
black carbon (soot) that is deposited
on the Arctic snow and ice cap comes
from flaring inside or near the Arctic
Circle. This accelerates the melting
of snow and ice near the North Pole.

58 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 21, Issue 20, 2017