TEXAS METHANE & FLARING COALITION: WHO WE ARE February 2023
TEXAS METHANE & FLARING COALITION
WHO WE ARE The Texas oil and natural gas industry is a global leader in the responsible production of energy that has powered life for more than a century. Always proactively innovating, Texas operators are committed to working collaboratively to develop our state’s natural resources while improving environmental performance. To better assess the issues of methane emissions and flaring and develop industry-led solutions, a voluntary coalition of companies and organizations have joined together to form the Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition. The Coalition will collectively identify and promote operational and environmental recommended practices to minimize flaring and methane emissions. Coalition members are leading the way in methane and flaring reductions and the proof lies in the reductions each company is committed to making in Texas and beyond. While not exhaustive, this booklet provides a snapshot of some of the latest developments operators have made through investment in technology and innovation in their operations.
As energy demand continues to rise, Williams will be there for the communities that depend on our products and services. With the largest and most flexible gas transmission system in the U.S., Williams can support growing energy demand while maintaining industry-leading emissions rates. Williams is deploying practical and immediate steps to reduce GHG emissions while investing in the technology needed to build a clean energy economy. We are proud of the critical role that natural gas plays in reducing emissions in the U.S. At the same time, we recognize that more needs to be done to mitigate the risks of climate change by investing in a sustainable, low-carbon future. We were the first North American midstream company to commit to actionable climate targets. We have reduced our company-wide Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 47% since 2005, and are on our way to meeting our 2030 goal of a 56% reduction. Our progress on this goal puts us on a positive trajectory toward our ambitions of net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
We recognize the scientific consensus on climate change and the need to lower both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2 ). Oxy was the first U.S. oil and gas company to establish goals for net-zero emissions that align with the Paris Agreement and to endorse the World Bank’s initiative for Zero Routine Flaring by 2030. It is our core net-zero strategy to develop and commercialize technologies that lower GHG emissions and atmospheric concentrations of CO2. We believe effective public policies are a key catalyst to the early implementation of our net-zero strategy and pathway. In 2020, we announced our target to reach net-zero emissions associated with our operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) before 2040 and our ambition to achieve net-zero emissions associated with the use of our products (Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions) before 2050. We are a recognized world leader in the capture, transportation, and storage of CO2 , with over 50 years of experience. Our Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV) subsidiary and 1PointFive business unit were established to build upon Occidental’s carbon management experience to develop and utilize Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies to help achieve net-zero. Oxy is advancing and accelerating CCUS technologies for sustainable CO2 reduction. Our teams seek new ideas and bring them to life to reduce our own emissions and help others to do the same.
Low emission pneumatic controllers
prevented approximately
2.9 million
cubic feet of methane per day of emissions
Reducing operational emissions and flaring through infrastructure investment bp is committed to reducing its operational emissions 50% by 2030. To achieve this, we are investing heavily on infrastructure, including $1.3 billion in the Permian Basin. We are building centralized production facilities so that new well sites have no tanks, flares, or onsite compression, enabling best-in-class emissions performance. We are investing in electrification too – building an electrical substation network large enough to power nearly all the residential homes in the Austin, TX – 400 MW capacity now on our way to 800MW installed by 2025. Electricity is the cleanest, most efficient, reliable and cost-effective means of distributing power across an oilfield. This electrical infrastructure will enable us to electrify 100% of our wells in the Permian by 2025. We’re also tackling flaring: We’ve committed to eliminate routine flaring by 2025 in our US onshore operations and are well on our way toward achieving our goal. We’ve reduced flaring in the Permian from roughly 16% when we acquired our assets to less than 0.5% today – all while bringing new production online. We have installed air assist on flares, which allow low pressure flares to operate with the highest combustion efficiency and remain lit, preventing methane releases through unlit flares or incomplete combustion. We have also installed thermocouple sensors on 100% of Permian flare stacks to ensure pilots are lit.
Invested in largest electric drive facility which reduces GHG emissions more than 90% compared to alternative gas fired designs. Exploring investments and partnerships in new technology and CSUS to further reduce direct carbon footprint. Preparing transparent and stage emission reporting following the LNG industry’s GIIGNL GHG framework. Investing in facility design improvements to increase aggregate production for increased efficiency and reduction of flaring.
Proud Trade Association Members