# Presentation: 707779

## Overview for Gathering & Processing CompaniesReducing Emissions Increasing EfficiencyMaximizing Profits

**U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Natural Gas STAR Program**

## Background: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

**Background: U.S. Greenhouse Gas ****Emissions**

**U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions****All Sources**

**U.S. Methane Emissions by Sector**

**Oil and natural gas systems are the largest man-made source of methane emissions (24%) and make up 2% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions **

## Background: U.S. Oil and Gas Methane Emissions by Sector

- 2006 U.S. methane emissions from oil and natural gas industry: 323 Bcf (2% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions)

- Source: EPA. *Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990 – 2006. *April, 2008.
- Note: Natural Gas STAR reductions from gathering and boosting operations are reflected in the production sector.

## Background: Gathering and Processing Sector Methane Emissions

- Centrifugal
- Compressors
- 5 Bcf

- Blowdowns
- 2 Bcf

- Gas Engine Exhaust
- 7 Bcf

- Reciprocating
- Compressors
- 16 Bcf

- Plant
- Fugitives
- 2 Bcf

- Other Sources
- 1 Bcf

- Dehydrators
- and Pumps
- <1 Bcf

- Source: EPA. *Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990 – 2006. *April, 2008. Note: Natural Gas STAR reductions from gathering and boosting operations are reflected in the production sector.

## U.S. Oil & Natural Gas Opportunities: Why Gas STAR?

**323 Bcf of methane emissions per year amounts to:**** **
- $2.26B worth of gas lost (at $7/Mcf)
- CO2 emissions from the electricity use of 17.3 million homes for one year
- Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 23.9 million passenger vehicles
**U.S. oil and natural gas industry has an opportunity to cost-effectively reduce methane emissions resulting in:**
- Increased operational efficiency
- Increased profits
- Increased domestic gas supply
- Improved safety
- Improved environmental performance
- Better public relations

## The Natural Gas STAR Program

- 	The Natural Gas STAR Program is a ***flexible,**** ****voluntary partnership**** *between EPA and the oil and natural gas industry designed to ***cost-effectively**** *reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations.

**More Than 120 Partners: **For a complete listing of Natural Gas STAR partner companies and industry association endorsers, visit** **epa.gov/gasstar/partners/index.html

## Key Components

**Guidance on new technologies and practices**
- Technical documents on more than 80 cost-effective technologies and practices
- Free Technology Transfer workshops
- One-on-one technical assistance to identify and prioritize  cost-effective methane emission reduction opportunities
**Annual record of partner voluntary actions and methane savings**

**Technical Information**

**Annual Reports**

**Project**
**Demonstrations**

**Workshops**

## Benefits to Participation

**Save time identifying the “right” technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions and increase revenue**
- Technical information and economic analyses based on partner companies’ field experiences
- One-on-one assistance to identify and prioritize cost-effective projects appropriate for a company’s operating environment
**Build network with industry peers, draw upon their experience and success**
- Sector specific Technology Transfer Workshops and Annual Implementation Workshops
**Minimal resources required to administer the Program****—****these are provided:**
- Standardized forms and default emission values
- Data collection software and online reporting
- Gas STAR technical support staff
**Enhanced corporate reputation**
- Public recognition and easy methods to quantify environmental benefits
**Voluntary record of reductions and benchmarking reports detailing accomplishments**

## Key Steps to Participation

**Step 1:** **Sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)** and market Gas STAR internally—develop a supportive corporate environment from the beginning.
**Step 2:** **Submit an Implementation Plan** outlining how Gas STAR will be incorporated into company operations.
**Step 3:** **Participate in the Gas STAR Program** based on corporate goals and resources, act on cost-effective methane emission reduction opportunities, attend workshops, and report activities and accomplishments.
**Step 4:** **Submit annual progress reports** (after one full year of participation) documenting the previous year’s achievements.

## Accomplishments

**Through participation in the Natural Gas STAR Program, partners reduced methane emissions by 92.5 Bcf in 2007**
- 677 Bcf in cumulative reductions since 1993

## Enbridge Energy Partners Case Study(Joined January 2004)

**Program Implementation to Ensure Success**

- Joining Gas STAR was an impetus to start methane-saving projects, especially Directed Inspection and Maintenance (DI&M) to identify and repair leaks
- Project implementation aided by constant communications between upper management and operations staff to prioritize methane savings

- Through information gained from Gas STAR Program events and technical documents, implemented successful leak detection and repair program, including an extensive focus on aerial leak detection

**Examples: Key Achievements and Contributions**

- Through these and other efforts, _**Enbridge saved over 850 million cubic feet (MMcf) of methane**_ in the first year of participation
- Awarded Processing “Partner of the Year” in 2004 and 2007

## Resources and Contact Information	

- Learn more about Natural Gas STAR, visit:** epa.gov/gasstar**
- Detailed information on recommended technologies and practices:** epa.gov/gasstar/tools/recommended.html**
- Gas STAR forms including MOU, Implementation Plan, and Annual Reporting forms:** epa.gov/gasstar/tools/program-forms.html**
- Additional information on implementing the Natural Gas STAR** **Program:** epa.gov/gasstar/guidelines/index.html**

## Contact Information

**Jerome Blackman**
- 	(202) 343-9630
- 	_[blackman.jerome@epa.gov](mailto:blackman.jerome@epa.gov)_
**Carey Bylin**
- 	(202) 343-9669
- 	_[bylin.carey@epa.gov](mailto:bylin.carey@epa.gov)_
**Roger Fernandez**
**	****(**202) 343-9386
- 	_[fernandez.roger@epa.gov](mailto:fernandez.roger@epa.gov)_
**Suzie Waltzer**
- 	(202) 343-9544
- 	_[waltzer.suzanne@epa.gov](mailto:waltzer.suzanne@epa.gov)_