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Active and inactive oil and gas sites contribute to methane emissions in western Saskatchewan, Canada

2022; BioOne; Volume: 10; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1525/elementa.2022.00014

2325-1026

Judith Vogt, Justin Laforest, Mark Argento, Sarah Kennedy, Évelise Bourlon, Martin Lavoie, David Risk,

Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies

The oil and gas industry is Canada’s largest contributor to national methane (CH4) emissions. To quantify the input of active and inactive (suspended and abandoned) oil and gas infrastructure to regional CH4 budgets, we conducted truck-based measurements (transect-based and OTM 33A) with a greenhouse gas analyzer, complimented with optical gas imaging at oil-producing sites of Saskatchewan, including understudied regions. We found that inactive sites regionally accounted for roughly 43% of total measured CH4 emissions in Lloydminster, 9% in Kindersley, and 0% in Swift Current. Thus, CH4 emissions from oil production in southwestern Saskatchewan are underestimated by almost 25% if emissions from inactive sites are ignored. Measured mean CH4 emissions of actively producing oil and gas infrastructure in Lloydminster were at least 50% lower (36 ± 7 m3/day) than found in previous studies potentially due to declines in production schemes, effective implementation of emission reduction approaches, or spatial differences between sampled sites. Unlike previous studies, measured emissions in Lloydminster were lower than reported values (147 ± 10 m3/day). In contrast, measured emissions in Kindersley (64 ± 17 m3/day) and Swift Current (23 ± 16 m3/day) were close to reported emissions despite observed tank vents and unlit flares. Unlit flares emitted at least 3 times more CH4 than other infrastructure types and were the “super-emitters” in this study. Currently, provincial and federal regulations target only active infrastructure, but regulators may consider extending regulations to inactive sites where data suggest significant emission reduction potential.