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A new study using advanced technology shows that heavy oil plants in Saskatchewan are emitting nearly four times more potent greenhouse gases than reported to the government.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, pioneers a new method of measuring methane emissions that challenges current industry practices, says author Matthew Johnson, professor of engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa. said Mr.
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“A lot of these [reports] are based on … assumptions,” Johnson said. “Obviously, they’re not very accurate.”
Methane, a gas released as a byproduct of oil exploration, is often classified as a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Industry and governments are trying to reduce these emissions by three quarters, but the amount is difficult to measure. The story continues under the ad
“These are difficult measurements,” Johnson said.
The industry commonly estimates the amount of methane per barrel of oil and multiplies that measurement by the amount of oil produced. In recent years, several studies using direct measurements from overflying aircraft have cast doubt on this method.
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Johnson said the amount of methane associated with oil is highly variable and calculations based on that ratio are unreliable.
Johnson and his colleagues used the latest airborne technology and ground sensors to monitor methane emissions from the 962 Saskatchewan heavy oil plant, which uses what is known as CHOPS technology, which uses sand to push oil to the surface. I measured. it’s hot now
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They found that these sites were emitting 3.9 times as much methane as reported in state inventories. That’s more than 10,000 kilograms per hour compared to industry reports of about 2,700 kilograms per hour.
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“That methane alone would make a significant contribution to Saskatchewan’s overall inventory,” Johnson said.
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Knowing exactly how much methane the industry is releasing into the atmosphere is important for several reasons, Johnson said.
First, industry and the federal government have agreed to reduce these emissions by 75% by 2030. Regulations to reach this goal are due
Second, Johnson said it will be important for the industry to have reliable analysis of well-to-well emissions in the future.
Methane emissions are not subject to the same taxes as carbon dioxide emissions, but that is changing. The United States is discussing pricing for released methane as part of its anti-inflation legislation.
Good information will be key to knowing which sources will continue to be effective as these pricing systems proliferate, Johnson said.
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“Imagine the price of methane…many of these wells are not economical.”
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However, Johnson’s calculations suggest that the cost of reducing methane is so low that the payback period without paying the methane price could be as little as two years. Including the value of oil produced reduces the payback period for many wells to nine months.
Even just burning methane works, Johnson said.
“Just installing basic burn mitigation technology can cut methane significantly without breaking the contract for the well,” he said.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 21, 2023. Note to readers: This is a modified story. A previous version said Alberta was included in the investigation.
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© 2023 The Canadian Pressthis year, and measuring an accurate starting point will be important.
