EPA Natural Gas STAR Program Accomplishments

• Introduction
• Methane Emission Reduction Technologies and Practices
• 2006: Continuing Excellence
• Emissions Reductions
• New Tools and Resources
• Production Sector Accomplishments
• Processing Sector Accomplishments
• Transmission Sector Accomplishments
• Distribution Sector Accomplishments

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Introduction

Established in 1993, the Natural Gas STAR program is a partnership between the U.S. EPA and the oil and natural gas industry designed to cost-effectively reduce methane emissions from voluntary activities undertaken at oil and natural gas operations both domestically and abroad. Having partnered with the oil and gas industry for 14 years, EPA has helped partners implement voluntary, cost-effective methane reduction technologies and practices to save money and improve operational efficiency. Technology transfer is an integral part of the Program. Partners implement a variety of technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions and, by reporting, share these with EPA and other partners who may benefit from the voluntary implementation of similar technologies and practices.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide. As the primary component of natural gas, methane is also a valuable clean energy source, and reducing emissions to the atmosphere improves partner companies’ bottom line while adding to domestic and international natural gas supply. Many recommended technologies and practices also result in additional benefits such as lower operating and maintenance costs, increased operational efficiency and improved safety. By working together to prevent gas losses, EPA and the oil and natural gas industry are successfully protecting the environment and improving profitability.

Natural Gas STAR industry partners have operations in all of the major industry sectors–production, processing, transmission, and distribution–and represent 62 percent of the natural gas industry in the U.S., including 23 of the top 25 U.S. natural gas production companies. Also, with the launch of Natural Gas STAR International in 2006, the Program expanded to include operations around the world, significantly increasing opportunities to reduce methane emissions from natural gas operations worldwide.

Today, the Program has nearly 120 partner companies and is endorsed by 20 major industry trade associations.

Methane Emission Reduction Technologies and Practices

Technologies and Practices

Natural Gas STAR partners are leaders in their field, voluntarily implementing new technologies and practices for reducing methane emissions from their operations. Gas STAR partners share these new technologies and practices with EPA and other partners, making technology transfer a critical component of the Program. The following diagram shows some of the top methane emission reduction opportunities for each sector.

Gas Production & Processing

• Perform reduced emissions completions
• Install plunger lifts
• Aerial leak detection using laser and/or infrared technology
• Eliminate unnecessary equipment and/or systems

Oil Production

• Install VRUs on crude oil storage tanks
• Route casinghead gas to VRU or compressor for recovery & use or sale

Gas Storage

• Convert gas pneumatic controls to instrument air
• Replace bi-directional orifice metering with ultrasonic meters
• Reduce methane emissions from compressor rod packing systems

Gas Distribution

• DI&M at surface facilities
• Identify and replace high-bleed pneumatic devices
• Survey and repair leaks

Gas Transmission

• DI&M at compressor stations
• Use fixed/portable compressors for pipeline pumpdown
• Install vapor recovery units on pipeline liquid/condensate tanks

2006: Continuing Excellence

Emissions Reductions

Now in its 14th year, the Natural Gas STAR Program continues to achieve great successes. Gas STAR partners have eliminated more than 577 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of methane emissions through the implementation of more than 120 cost-effective technologies and practices. For calendar year 2006, Gas STAR partners reported emissions reductions of approximately 85.9 Bcf. These emission reductions, voluntarily undertaken by Natural Gas STAR partner companies, have cross-cutting benefits on domestic energy supply, industrial efficiency, revenue generation and greenhouse gas emission reductions. The 2006 voluntary emissions reductions are equivalent to:

• Additional revenue of more than $600 million in natural gas sales (assumes 2006 average gas price of $7.00 per thousand cubic feet).
• The global warming equivalent of
• Removing approximately 7.5 million cars from the road for one year.
• 28.9 million acres of pine or fir forests storing carbon for one year.

2006 was a very successful year for Natural Gas STAR with reported emissions reduction of approximately 85.9 Bcf. The production and transmission sectors accounted for the most emissions reduced with 53.7 Bcf and 20.5 Bcf respectively.

New Tools and Resources

Natural Gas STAR also introduced several new tools and services available to further the goals of identifying, analyzing and promoting methane emission reduction activities in the oil and gas sector.

• Emission Reduction Quantification Reference Guide (XLS, 456KB): In order to help Gas STAR partners and other stakeholders better quantify emission reductions achieved through participation in the Program, EPA has developed a new reference guide to provide assistance in quantifying the methane emission reductions achieved by a particular technology or practice. Where applicable, the Emission Reduction Quantification Reference Guide provides viable calculation methodology options for direct measurement, engineering calculation, and/or emission factors for Gas STAR recommended technologies and practices. The Emission Reduction Quantification Reference Guide is available under the Forms section of the Documents, Tools and Resources section of the Natural Gas STAR Web site at http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/resources/forms.htm.



• Partner Challenge Service: The goal of the Natural Gas STAR Partner Challenge service is to assist Partner companies in identifying and implementing new methane reduction opportunities by developing estimates of a partner’s methane emissions, identifying key emission sources, and proposing economically and environmentally beneficial mitigation activities. The end product is a detailed report that quantifies methane emissions volumes by source and provides detailed economic and emissions analyses for implementing targeted emission Natural Gas STAR Emissions Reductions.

Source: EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2005, April 2007.

Production Sector Accomplishments

Production partners reported approximately 53.7 Bcf of methane emissions reductions in 2006—and a total of 346.7 Bcf since 1990. The top technologies and practices employed by production sector partners include:

Detailed information on these technologies and practices can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/techprac.htm

Source: EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2005, April 2007.

Processing Sector Accomplishments

Processing Partners reported 5.8 Bcf of methane emissions reductions in 2006—and a total of 24.3 Bcf since 1990. The top technologies and practices employed by processing sector partners include:

Detailed information on these technologies and practices can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/techprac.htm

Source: EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2005, April 2007.

Transmission Sector Accomplishments

Transmission Partners reported 20.5 Bcf of methane emissions reductions in 2006—and a total of 176.3 Bcf since 1993. The top technologies and practices employed by transmission sector partners include:

Detailed information on these technologies and practices can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/techprac.htm

Source: EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2005, April 2007.

Distribution Sector Accomplishments

Distribution Partners reported 5.6 Bcf of methane emissions reductions in 2006—and a total of approximately 38.1 Bcf since 1993. The top technologies and practices employed by distribution sector partners include:

Detailed information on these technologies and practices can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/techprac.htm

View a list of our partner companies and endorsers!

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