SPE Tech Talk: Eliminating Methane Emissions and Flaring from O&G Operations

Many companies in today’s crowded marketplace offer individual technologies to mitigate or reduce methane and routine flaring emissions—a sensor that measures methane emission sources; an instrument that converts waste gas to LNG; a software platform that inventories greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While those technologies can be effective, it is unclear how they fit into a holistic effort to ultimately eliminate methane emissions. For example, it is challenging to determine which methane leak detection technique to use, how to respond to any detected emissions, and which delivers greater impact—reducing flaring (which is visible)or reducing methane leaks (which are not). In this SPE TECH TALK, Schlumberger Energy Transition Advisor and methane expert Drew Pomerantz discusses how Shlumberger’s end-to-end emissions solutions (SEES) business can help operators find, reduce, and eliminate methane emissions and routine flaring from any size facility, any place. He explains where oil and gas methane emissions come from (not necessarily where you would think); the available technologies necessary to find, reduce, and eliminate them (many are ready now); the impact of location and other factors on efficiency; and the need for serious, legitimate economic evaluation of available options.