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New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Monitoring and measuring methane
22/1/2025
10 min read
Feature
Reducing upstream emissions of methane has been a hot topic over the past 12 months, and industry bodies are following with the publication of significant technical guidance, although methane measurement standards are lagging behind, reports New Energy World Senior Editor Will Dalrymple.
Oil and gas trade association IOGP’s new energy transition directorate is moving into a new phase to promote the adoption of technical documents, its Director Dr Faye Gerard said in a September 2024 webinar. Those documents include Report 647 for flare gas recovery systems (with a focus on continuous flaring), Report 673 on minimising and avoiding flaring, Report 675 on guidelines for minimising and avoiding venting and Report 661 on technologies to detect and quantify methane emissions.
Report 673 was originally published in January 2024, but reissued in December with additional recommendations about specifying corrosion-resistant materials for valves connected to flare gas. In the new version’s introduction, IOGP recommends it be used with the flaring management guidance in Report 467.
In the webinar, BP Vice President of Carbon Andy Best said: ‘I would encourage participants to not underestimate the prize if they really focus on emissions as they focus on oil and gas production and water management. What are your emissions technology limits for facilities, and how low can you get flaring? Of course there is a place for flaring for safety reasons, but we have found through optimisations what is low or no-cost by engaging with our operational teams, understanding our kit and processes. Within BP we have had really significant flaring reductions at minimal costs. I would encourage folks to focus on all flaring as a critical decarbonisation lever.’