Addressing Uncertainty in Oil and Natural Gas Industry Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Industry has recognized that with the emergence of mandatory reporting programs and economic instruments that rely on precise knowledge of GHG emissions (and emission reductions) there is a growing focus on improving the quality of emission estimations. To meet this need, industry developed guidance entitled: “Addressing Uncertainty in Oil & Gas Industry GHG Inventories: Technical Considerations and Calculation Methods”. This is a collaborative effort among API, it’s global affiliate IPIECA[1], and it’s European counterpart CONCAWE[2]. Addressing uncertainty for GHG emission estimates complements the API GHG Methodology Compendium (API Compendium)released in August 2009. It is being released as a ‘Pilot-Test’ version for one-year, to be followed by an updated version in 2010. The document provides the needed background information and details on measurement uncertainty and statistical calculation methods that are relevant for the industry, but could be used by other sectors as part of their GHG inventory development. You are invited to visit this link to download the document:
Size: 1.48 MB | Date: September 2009 | License: Free
Accurate estimation of greenhouse gas emissions is indispensable to responsibly addressing climate change. Through API, the U.S. oil and natural gas industry has provided a suite of tools for estimating emissions. It includes API's updated 2009 compendium of emissions estimation methodologies, for emissions estimation and inventorying, and (created by the international petroleum organization IPIECA) to assist in the accounting and reporting of emissions.
Click below to download the Compendium of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Methodologies for the Oil and Gas Industry.
View/Download
Size: 8 MB | Date: August 2009 | License: Free
Oil and Natural Gas Industry Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Projects
IPIECA and API have produced new guidance for oil and natural gas companies as they evaluate options for reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and registering project-level GHG emission reductions. This guidance focuses on the technical aspects of reducing GHG emissions separate from policy considerations.
The American Petroleum Institute is the official endorser of the Natural Gas STAR Program, a voluntary partnership between EPA and the oil and gas industry designed to cost-effectively reduce methane emissions. Together, API and Natural Gas STAR are working to promote a common goal of profitably reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas industry. The U.S. EPA’s Natural Gas STAR program plays an important role in API’s mission to work constructively for sound energy and environmental public policies. API encourages all of its member companies to take an active role in protecting the environment by participating in Natural Gas STAR. Not only will Natural Gas STAR help API members further improve operating efficiency, participation helps send a powerful message that voluntary, cooperative programs are effective at simultaneously meeting environmental goals and increasing profits. An EPA progress report on the program shows that API members have achieved methane reductions totaling 578 billion cubic feet through 2006.
Climate Change - A Progress Report
API has issued a new report that documents progress achieved by the U.S. oil and natural gas industry addressing the climate change issue. The report discusses the industry's efforts to increase energy efficiency (highlighting recent progress improving refinery energy efficiency, a principal industry goal), promote alternative energy, establish tools for estimating and tracking emissions, and help develop new energy technologies for eliminating or sequestering emissions.
Size: 1.6 MB | Date: December 2005 | License: Free
Companies Address Climate Change
This updates Climate Change: A Progress Report above, showing additional, often more recent actions U.S. oil and natural gas companies are taking to address the problem of climate change.
API Voluntary Climate Challenge Program
Through its leading trade association, the American Petroleum Institute, the U.S. oil and natural gas industry has established a program to build on its previous work addressing climate change. The program is a positive response to the President’s challenge to American industry to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while keeping the economy growing.
API is undertaking its first annual survey of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S. oil and natural gas industry operations. This is a voluntary program that will allow individual companies including API members and non-members to assess their progress managing GHG emissions and compare reductions in emissions intensity against aggregate industry performance. In the first survey round, companies are reporting their 2005 GHG emissions as well as "normalization factors" so that emissions intensity of operations can be calculated. By participating in this and subsequent surveys, companies will be able to compare their greenhouse gas emissions or emissions intensity progress against aggregate industry performance. The program will enable the oil and gas industry to assess its overall progress managing GHG emissions and demonstrate to the public the industry's commitment to addressing the climate change issue. For more information about the program, please click on the title above.
4th API Conference on Voluntary Actions Addressing Climate Change
API and the U.S. Department of Energy co-sponsored the 4th voluntary actions conference in Washington, D.C. on December 4-5, 2006. Conference speakers gave presentations on voluntary actions by the U.S. oil and natural gas industry addressing climate change. Links to an Executive Summary (which includes a list of presentations) and full conference proceedings are below. To order a CD of the proceedings that includes the actual conference presentations as well as the summary and full conference report, please contact climate@api.org.
Conference Brochure (the Executive Summary)
Size: 653 KB | Date: December 2006 | License: Free
Conference Report (full proceedings with summary of all presentations)
Size: 624 KB | Date: December 2006 | License: Free
For previous API Voluntary Action Conference information please email climate@api.org.