PTAC Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada
June 2019
Executive Summary
This project will demonstrate the scalability and ability to be deployed in real world situations of various novel remote sensing sensors, software, solar electric system solutions sensor and related technologies for methane detection, measurement, and mitigation in the Canadian upstream oil and gas (UOG) sector. The project will focus on testing the technologies on major sources, namely cold light/medium and heavy oil production, natural gas production, and surface casing vent flows from major sources in Alberta and Saskatchewan and support the overall Canadian government’s goal of methane emission reductions by 40 to 45% below 2012 levels by 2025.
This final report summarizes outcomes for the Advanced Methane Detection, Analytics and Mitigation project undertaken by Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC) in collaboration with Cap-Op Energy, Cenovus Energy, Encana Corporation, General Electric Canada, the University of Calgary, Process Ecology Inc., Polar Star Canadian Oil and Gas Inc., Calscan Solutions, LCO Technologies, Husky Energy, and Repsol Oil and Gas Canada Inc.
This project commenced on April 1, 2016 and concluded on September 20, 2018. The project demonstrated a portfolio of near commercial (TRL 6 – 8) clean technologies for the detection, analytics and mitigation of methane emissions in the upstream oil and gas (UOG) sector and was composed of 2 themes: (1) Detection and Analytics, and (2) Mitigation. The robust solutions presented by these innovative technologies address challenges faced by regulators and operators and help to support the Canadian federal government’s policy to reduce methane and volatile organic carbon (VOC) emissions by 40% – 45% by 2025. The objectives of this project were to (1) demonstrate clean technologies, (2) demonstrate technologies for methane detection and measurement, (3) demonstrate technologies for methane emissions mitigation, and (4) to disseminate project activities.
Project Phases