Please note, registration for the 2018 Methane Emissions Reduction Forum is now closed.

  • This informative two day event focused on various aspects of reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations such as: Regulation development, resources and opportunities available to industry, as well as, detection, quantification and mitigation/control technologies used to address targeted emission source areas.

    This forum discussed current and future challenges facing the Canadian oil and gas industry related to 2025 methane emissions reductions targets and, in exploring this critical issue, the forum also took a closer look at the current state of emissions reduction opportunities as well as the challenges and opportunities available to support technology innovation and new practices.

     

     

    Thank you to the 2018 forum sponsors

  • Day One
    7:00 - 9:00 AMRegistration (Located in the Banff Kinnear Centre)
    7:00 - 9:00 AMBreakfast (Located in the Vistas Dining Room)
    8:45 AMMorning Opening Remarks - Launch of the Methane Emissions Reduction Network
    Soheil Asgarpour - President, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada
    9:15 AMKeynote – “Balancing Economic Growth, Diversification, and Prosperity while Advancing Emissions Reductions: Alberta’s Story”
    Mark Taylor, Executive Vice-President Operations Division, Alberta Energy Regulator
    9:45 AMSession 1: Panel – Regulatory and Industry Perspective
    As Canada continues to set its sights on emissions reductions targets for 2025, stakeholders want to ensure that current and future research will effectively contribute to smart regulatory development and best practices while respecting geographically-specific considerations. This panel will set the stage on regulatory requirements, timing and need for cost reductions.
    Panel Chair: David Collyer, Board Chair, Emissions Reduction Alberta
    Panelists:
    • Mark Taylor, Executive Vice-President Operations Division, Alberta Energy Regulator
    • Ken Paulson, Chief Operating Officer, British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission
    • Mike Crabtree, Vice President, Energy Division, Saskatchewan Research Council
    • Patrick McDonald, Director Climate and Innovation, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
    11:00 AMCoffee Break
    11:15 AMPresentation – Provincial Regulation Development
    Gerald Palanca –Regulatory Framework Manager, Alberta Energy Regulator
    11:35 AMPresentation – Federal Regulation Development
    James Diamond – Manager, Upstream Oil and Gas, Environment and Climate Change Canada
    11:55 AMMorning Closing Remarks
    12:00 PMLunch Break
    1:00 PMAfternoon Opening Remarks
    1:05 PMSession 2: Panel – Funding and Innovation
    This session will focus on current and future mechanisms and programs designed to help technology providers successfully develop and deploy technology solutions. Panelists will also discuss gaps that need to be filled in terms of technology innovation, execution, and market uptake, in order to achieve methane reductions targets.
    Panel Chair: Soheil Asgarpour, President, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada
    Panelists:
    • Elizabeth Shirt, Executive Director of Policy & Strategy, Emissions Reduction Alberta
    • John Zhou, Vice-President Clean Energy, Alberta Innovates
    • Darryl Hill, Vice President, Program Design and Delivery, Energy Efficiency Alberta
    • Yvan Champagne, President, Blue Source Canada
    2:20 PMSession 3: Panel – Technology Development and Deployment Perspectives
    Through the efforts of numerous stakeholders who help facilitate PTAC’s programs, dozens of technology projects are currently underway at PTAC, helping guide industry towards 2025 Federal emissions targets, as well as the Alberta Climate Leadership Plan targets. This session will take a closer look at some of these technology initiatives, expanding upon the potential impacts these innovative solutions will have on current and future industry operations, and the overarching transition to a low carbon economy in Canada.
    Panel Chair: Wayne Hillier, Manager, Alberta Operations, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
    Panelists:
    • Joy Romero , Vice-President Technology and Innovation, Canadian Natural Resources
    • Cory Bergh, Vice-President Financial & Information Services, NAL Resources Management
    • Sean Hiebert, Senior Technical Advisor, Climate Policy Assurance, The Alberta Energy Regulator
    • Arvind P. Ravikumar, Assistant Professor in Energy Engineering, Harrisburg University
    • Chris Hugenholtz, Associate Professor, The University of Calgary
    3:35 PMAfternoon Closing Remarks and Introduction to the Student Led Innovation and Poster Session Networking Reception
    Matthew Johnson, Professor and Director of the FlareNet Network and the Energy and Emissions Research Lab, Carleton University
    3:40 PMStudent Led Innovation and Poster Session Networking Reception
    The “Advancing the Low Carbon Economy – The Road to 2025” Student Led Innovation and Student Poster Session, made possible by Carleton University and Alberta Innovates, informs forum participants of relevant innovative research projects that are currently being undertaken by post-secondary students, pertaining to Canadian emissions reductions.

    18 posters will be displayed in the networking reception area of the forum space throughout the duration of the forum for attendees to browse. During the networking reception, poster authors will be available next to their respective posters to provide poster content descriptions and answer questions. Refreshments and cocktails will be served during the reception.
    Forum Adjourned
    5:00 PMFlareNet Panel Discussion – Open Invitation to all Forum Participants
    “What it All Means – Flaring Research and Its Implications for Cleaner Fossil Fuels”

    Despite the magnitudes of gas flaring globally, data and models to accurately predict their emissions are critically lacking. Backed by a strong array of government and industry partners, FlareNet’s over-arching objective is quantitative understanding of flare generated pollutant emissions critical to enabling science-based regulations, accurate pollutant inventories, understanding of climate forcing and health implications, and engineering design and assessment of mitigation strategies to minimize environmental impacts in the energy sector. Refreshments and cocktails will be served during the panel discussion.

    Panel Chair:
    • Larry Kostiuk, Mechanical Engineering Associate Director and Professor, University of Alberta

    Panelists:
    • Matthew Johnson, Professor and Director of the FlareNet Network and the Energy and Emissions Research Lab, Carleton University
    • Jason Olfert, Mechanical Engineering Professor and Theme Two Lead (Flowback Flaring), University of Alberta
    • Remaining panelists are to be announced.
    6:30 PMFlareNet Panel Discussion Adjournment
    Day Two
    7:00-9:00 AMBreakfast (Located in the Vistas Dining Room)
    8:30-9:00 AMRegistration (Located in Banff Kinnear Centre)
    9:00 AMWelcome and Introduction
    9:05 AMKeynote – “The Role of Innovation on Achieving Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets and Equivalency”
    Monica Curtis, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Efficiency Alberta
    9:25 AMEnergy Efficiency Alberta Program Overview
    Babar Moghal, Senior Program Manager of CLEAResult®, Energy Efficiency Alberta
    Session 4: Targeted Source Area – Fugitives

    This session will encompass information on regulatory programs to manage fugitive emissions, and other monitoring and verification of aerial systems for leak detection and repair (LDAR).
    9:35 AMPresentation – Equivalent Emissions Reduction: What Does it Mean for Alternative Methane Sensing Technologies
    Chris Hugenholtz, Associate Professor, The University of Calgary

    9:55 AMPresentation – Component Inventory and Fugitive Emissions Study
    Yori Jamin, Department Head Environment, Clearstone Engineering

    10:15 AMPresentation – Fugitive Emissions Management Plan Effectiveness Assessment
    Cooper Robinson, Managing Director, Cap-Op Energy & Arvind P. Ravikumar, Assistant Professor in Energy Engineering, Harrisburg University
    10:35 AMCoffee Break
    Session 4 (continued): Targeted Source Area – Fugitives
    10:45 AMPresentation – Development of a Highly Repeatable and Auditable, Cost-Effective Monitoring System to Locate and Quantify Emissions via Small Unmanned Aerial Systems
    Ken Whitehead, Research Associate, Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
    11:05 AMPresentation – Airborne 3D Gas Imager Aerial Verification
    Douglas Hunter, Vice-President Systems Research & Development, LiDAR Services International Inc. &/or Mike Thorpe, Chief Technology Officer, Bridger Photonics
    Session 5: Targeted Source Area – Compressors

    This session will focus on the ongoing technology development and R&D dedicated towards addressing methane emissions that result from the operation of compressors.
    11:25 AMPresentation – Compression Seal Vent Packing Study
    Laura Johnson, Technical Advisor Climate & Policy Assurance, Alberta Energy Regulator
    11:45 AMPresentation – Compressor Emissions Measurement Challenges
    Thomas MacArthur, Engineering Manager, Calscan Solutions
    12:05 PMMorning Closing Remarks
    Marc Godin, Technical Director, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada
    12:10 PMLunch Break
    1:10 PMAfternoon Opening Remarks & Announcement of Student Led Innovation Poster Session Winners
    Marc Godin, Technical Director, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada
    Session 6: Targeted Source Area – Pneumatics

    This session will encompass presentations on two ongoing technology demonstration projects and a recently completed study that industry has invested in to reduce the cost of using instrument air for elimination of venting, for replacing pneumatics to eliminate methane venting, and to develop accurate emission factors for level controllers.
    1:15 PMPresentation – Solar Instrument Air Compressor Demonstration Project
    Kelly Parker, Environmental Advisor, Husky Energy
    1:35 PMPresentation – Solar Electronic Control System Demonstration Project
    Greg Unrau, Senior Environmental Coordinator, Repsol Oil and Gas Canada
    1:55 PMPresentation – Revised Emissions Factors for Level Controllers Study
    Mike D’Antoni, Business Development Manager, GreenPath Energy and Brian Van Vliet, Environmental Solutions Leader, Spartan Controls
    2:15 PMCoffee Break
    Session 7: Targeted Source Area – Venting

    This session will focus on the ongoing technology development and R&D dedicated towards addressing methane emissions that result from venting.
    2:30 PMPresentation – Enclosed Vapour Combustor Reduced Spacing
    Dallas Rosevear, Business Manager, Black Gold Rush Industries
    2:50 PMPresentation – Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand Gas to Oil Ratio and Gas in Solution Measurement
    Laura Johnson, Technical Advisor Climate & Policy Assurance, Alberta Energy Regulator
    3:10 PMForum Observations, Conclusions, and Next Steps
    Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
    3:25 PMForum Closing Remarks
    Marc Godin, Technical Director, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada
    3:30 PMDay Two - Forum Closed

  • 5+ interesting learnings from the Methane Emissions Reduction Forum

    The Methane Emissions Reduction Forum wrapped up in Banff after two days of industry excitement. This inaugural, methane-specific event informed – and we hope, inspired – attendees with actionable stories of industry leaders empowering their business while reducing methane emissions.

    A sold-out event, more than 200 participants joined from around the world.

    Participants included key stakeholders from academia to regulatory bodies and producers to R&D.

    During keynote speeches, panel sessions, and presentations, energy industry experts highlighted the status of provincial and federal regulations, encouraged collaboration among organizations, and discussed how businesses are operating with agility in efforts to reach Alberta’s Climate Change Leadership Plan targets of reducing methane emissions by 45 percent before 2025.

    Major themes at the event included:

    • Articulating challenges associated with deployment
    • Technology deployment programs
    • Collaboration and coordination
    • Regulatory and government updates

    We also announced launching the Methane Emissions Reduction Network – Industry’s “go to” source for all things methane-related in the energy industry.

    While every takeaway was equally important and interesting, we’ve picked our five favorite learnings from the event.

    We are already making a difference in reducing GHG emissions

    In June of this year, CAPP released their report “Competitive Climate Policy: Supporting Investment and Innovation”. Inside it explains how the Canadian oil and natural gas sector can be internationally competitive while reducing global GHG emissions. Additionally, the study makes key recommendations in investing in technology and innovation, but the most exciting finding is regarding Canada’s progress in reducing flaring and venting:

    While emission levels between 2014 and 2015 have remained relatively the same, they’re roughly 60% less than 2005 emissions and there continues to be considerable activity since publishing the report.

    Money back energy

    It’s been a busy year for Energy Efficiency Alberta (EEA) and energy efficiency across Alberta.

    The energy efficiency agency recently released its first annual report, sharing how Albertans have benefitted from programs throughout the province in the previous fiscal year.

    Over 113,000 households received energy-efficiency upgrades through EEA’s Residential No-Charge Energy Savings Program.

    Overall, in the past year, Alberta has invested $96.3 million in programs delivering a net savings of $334 million. This means that for every $1 invested in energy efficiency products and programs, Albertans are saving more than $3.

    Like unicorns, optimal LDAR frequency is a myth

    Building a diverse environmental compliance program that covers the current regulatory requirements can be rather daunting. Thankfully, there are new technologies that can survey facilities quickly.

    When it comes to Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) monitoring frequency, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all optimal frequency (monthly, quarterly, semiannually, annually, etc.). But there are certain simple steps to help your company find what works best:

    Step 1: Pick a mitigation target

    Step 2: Choose a given technology and method to use

    Step 3: Calculate the costs associated with the new technology and LDAR frequency

    Remember that the ratio of cost to emissions reduction is a key metric for gauging alternative LDAR.  So repeat step three to test various combinations of technology and frequency in order to find which one works best for the chosen location and target.

    The secret 5th hose connection type

    It’s no secret that a lot of compressor sites are decades old. Some have even been around since the 1960’s. This leaves a variety of exhaust vents difficult to connect to.

    Often, field techs must fix on the fly…. Only using whatever they have on hand.

    While these “nonstandard” connections are rarely an issue due to low pressures, there’s a better option.

    Thomas MacArthur, Engineering Manager at Calscan Solutions, recommends field techs always have the following:

    • NPT nipples, bushings, couplings in 1/4” 1/2” 3/4” 1” and 2” sizes
    • Gas-rated Teflon tape and thread sealant
    • Tube connections in 1/4” 3/8” 1/2” sizes
    • Quick connects to easily attach hoses
    • Rubber hoses 1” long
    • Rubber hoses 1/4” 1/2” 3/4” 1” 2” short
    • Hose clamps and adapters all sizes
    • Duct tape
    • Binder twine

    MacArthur also suggests either carrying a $100K FLIR camera or soap and water… your choice.

    Technology deployment at scale

    It cannot be emphasized enough that the oil and gas industry can meet emission reduction targets. A great number of real-world applications and solutions can already be found in the field. We merely have to accelerate both the regulation and adoption processes. In fact, a 25 percent reduction in industry’s GHG footprint could occur if existing technologies were implemented today across industry.

    The good news is, along with great solutions on hand, there are already processes in place to support initiatives.

    Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is focused on working with all stakeholders, including Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), to ensure that regulations are not a barrier to deployment for projects.

    Sean Hiebert, Senior Technical Advisor at the AER stated the provincial regulator expects to have protocols installed in late 2019 and stressed that the AER does not want to stifle innovation, but rather understands that “collaboration is the key to success”.

    Joy Romero, Vice-President Technology and Innovation for Canadian Natural Resources Limited, emphasized the need for collaboration; reminding attendees that we are part of a global energy system. Thus, the industry “needs to utilize and market Canadian products globally.”

    By collaborating and sharing successful projects with one another, innovators are able to continue developing their concepts – on a local, and global, scale. After all, until technologies are commercialized, change simply cannot occur.

    BONUS: Greg Unrau eradicating carbon one YouTube video at a time

    When given more information, people can effect change

    A main theme throughout the forum was the need for transparency and information.

    Whether it’s input from field operators specifically or calling for discussions on best practices when people are armed with proper information, we know we can reach the 45 percent emission target.

    If you joined us for the forum, we hope you had a great time! Please help us make next year’s event even better by completing the post-event survey and share your feedback.

    If you’re interested in learning more about PTAC and its initiatives, you may sign up for our free newsletter. Additionally, speaker presentations are available to view, linked to each speaker in the “agenda” tab.

    And thank you to all our sponsors. Without you, our event wouldn’t have been possible.