Taking offshore methane measurements to new levels
Understanding and addressing methane emissions is an important step toward net zero, but traditional methodologies of reporting emissions at source level are under increasing scrutiny.
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Challenge:
Eni has adopted a detailed business strategy to reduce net absolute lifecycle emissions, associated with operation and products, by 80% by 2050. It aims to reach carbon neutrality across its upstream operations by 2030 and across the group’s global operations by 2040. Whilst leak detection and repair campaigns in 2019 saw upstream methane fugitive emissions reduced by 44% over the year before, Eni continued to look for innovation.
Solution:
Eni partnered with Clarke Valve, through the OGCI Climate Investments deployment programme, to replace less efficient pneumatic globe valves with lighter, smaller Shutter Valves at the Trecate Oil Centre in Italy.
The innovative valves leverage aerospace design principles. During international standard certification tests, they recorded a methane leakage rate of just 2 parts-per-million (PPM), compared to around 500PPM in conventional globe valves. Additionally, requiring less torque to open and close makes them more energy efficient and cheaper to run, and allows them to be powered by off-grid renewables.
Result:
The replacement programme saw the valves fitted and fully operational across five different applications in just three days. Early performance data shows the complete suite running within their operating range, and emissions from the new valves are expected to be negligible. The two companies are now conducting exploratory work to design and fit solar-powered actuators, to reduce carbon intensity further. A project summary was presented to staff across Eni businesses to identify further potential applications. Over the next 12 months valve performance will be monitored as part of Eni’s Technology Validation procedure.
Expanding impact:
By working in close partnership with Eni, Clarke Valve further expanded its understanding of how to navigate complex organizations in different jurisdictions and meet extensive certification requirements. This opens the way to accelerate deployment in large organizations strongly committed to reducing methane leaks through the adoption of field-tested technologies. This successful multi-application pilot is scalable for thousands of valves.
What OGCI member companies are doing to reduce methane emissions
Member companies are expanding leak detection and repair campaigns, removing high-emitting devices, and reducing both flaring and venting.
TotalEnergies and Qnergy remove 98% of vented methane emissions
Across many of the world’s natural gas production fields, gas pneumatic devices used for process control and chemical injection vent methane directly into the air.
EXXONMOBIL – Methane management in unconventional operations
ExxonMobil is progressing a comprehensive methane management programme which is on track to meet its goal of reducing methane emissions by 15% in 2020, compared to 2016.
REPSOL – New generation membrane technology reduces emissions
In 2018, Repsol introduced a comprehensive set of internal metrics, targets and action plans to ensure meaningful progress towards climate change mitigation.
SAUDI ARAMCO – Getting results with leak detection and repair
Saudi Aramco’s leak detection and repair programme, enables the mitigation of fugitive leaks, one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the industry.
ENI – Investing in flaring reduction
Having reduced upstream operated carbon intensity by 20% since 2014, Eni is on track to achieve its company target of 43% reduction by 2025.
CNPC – Tackling methane emissions
Reducing upstream methane emissions from oil and gas operations is an important component of CNPC’s Green Action Plan
BP – Mapping and capping methane emissions with Kairos Aerospace
bp has pledged to measure its methane emissions by 2023 and has enlisted Kairos to conduct aerial surveys.
