Canada international leader in methane emissions reductions: CAPP

Canada an international leader in methane emissions reductions

Canada’s oil sands producers investing over $1.33 billion on 936 technologies, innovations and best practices

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) welcomes Environment and Climate Change Canada’s proposed commitment to reduce further methane and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in the oil and natural gas sector, according to a press release.

Although CAPP disagrees with the federal government’s assessment Canada needs to “catch up” with environmental policies in the United States.

“Canada is a leader in reducing methane emissions in the oil and natural gas sector. We are in a position of strength to move ahead by advancing cost-effective technology to reduce emissions,” said Terry Abel Executive VP for CAPP.

CAPP supports an approach to methane that provides a regulatory driver for continual performance improvement in new development and enables funding for clean technology to address existing facilities to meet economically-achievable thresholds.

The oil and gas industry recognizes the role it plays in environmental stewardship and has committed to reduce methane emissions by 45 per cent from 2012 levels by 2025.

“Canada’s oil and natural gas industry has been outperforming other jurisdictions such as North Dakota, Colorado and California for methane emissions reductions. We are confident that we will reduce emissions by 45 per cent from 2012 levels by 2025,” said Abel.

Both British Columbia and Alberta have strict regulations on flaring, venting and fugitive emissions from upstream facilities that serve as models of success for other jurisdictions domestically and internationally.

In Alberta, environmental regulations cut amount of natural gas flared by 80 per cent from 1996 to 2010, reducing GHG emissions by more than eight million tonnes.

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In B.C., regulations will eliminate flaring at wells and production facilities this year. B.C. has achieved a 23 per cent reduction in annual flare volumes since 2006, the baseline year, according to the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission.

Total gas flaring accounts for less than two per cent of GHG emissions in B.C.

Natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. Used in power generation, it emits 50 per cent fewer GHGs than coal and emits far fewer pollutants, according to CAPP.

Canada’s oil sands producers are investing more than $1.33 billion on 936 technologies, innovations and best practices through Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) to find solutions to reduce greenhouse gases, minimize impacts on land, and reduce water use.