New technologies helping meet climate targets New technologies helping meet climate targets By Deborah Jaremko, Courtesy of Canadian Energy Centre Ltd. Global interest in reducing methane emis-
creased by 1,400 per cent, and they’re ex-
– could help the world meet its methane
sions from oil & gas is rising, but in Canada
pected to more than triple again in 2022.
targets.
it’s been an area of focus − and success − for nearly two decades. According to CEC research, Canada’s methane emissions fell by 16 per cent be-
O’Shea says the company’s explosive
“There’s nothing to suggest we couldn’t
growth is because customers are increas-
have similar impacts in the United States,
ingly seeing the value of lowering their environmental footprint.
the Middle East, or former Soviet countries that also are involved in oil and natural gas
tween 2000 and 2018, even as oil produc-
“I don’t think it’s going to stop,” he says.
tion increased by 91 per cent. Meanwhile,
“I think management teams are going to
worldwide methane emissions increased
continue to want and go get those year-
by 27 per cent while oil production in-
over-year improvements in emissions per-
risdiction that is as far forward in terms of
creased by 38 per cent.
formance. And there’s lots of opportunity.”
its methane management as Canada.”. v
“Canada, and especially Alberta, is the
PTAC has been working for more than a
global leader in technologies to reduce
decade on the challenge and opportunity
methane emissions,” says Soheil Asgar-
of methane emissions reduction. Late last
pour, CEO of Petroleum Technology Al-
year, the research organization achieved a
liance Canada (PTAC), a non-profit that
major milestone. As of October 2021, the
helps technology developers cross the
technologies field tested through PTAC
bridge from R&D to commercial success.
have capacity to reduce methane emis-
The governments of both Alberta and Canada now expect oil & gas producers
sions by more than 45 per cent − if adopted by oil & gas producers.
to meet the target of reducing methane
The opportunity for these technology
emissions by 45 per cent in 2025 com-
providers isn’t just within Canada. Dur-
pared to levels in 2012.
ing last year’s COP26 climate summit in
A reduction of 34 per cent in 2020 com-
Glasgow, Scotland, over 100 countries in-
pared to 2014 has already been achieved
cluding Canada signed the Global Meth-
in Alberta.
ane Pledge, with the goal to reduce world
“We’re seeing a shift in mindset of the industry to where oil & gas producers are
methane emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030.
seeing it as a strategic choice with eco-
“If we can maintain our global leader-
nomic upside to improve their emissions
ship on technologies that reduce meth-
performance,” says Connor O’Shea, presi-
ane emissions, there’s going to be huge
dent of Calgary-based cleantech company
market created globally,” Asgarpour says.
Westgen Technologies.
production. It could be quite significant,” Fogwill says. “I don’t know of any other ju-
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PTAC chief operating officer Allan Fog-
Westgen’s technology reduces meth-
will says the success in Canada – both
ane emissions from oil & gas well sites. In
of reducing emissions and developing
the last three years, its revenues have in-
technologies that address the challenge Manitoba Energy Review 2022
25
