Methane Emissions Quantification: An Important Challenge Taken up to Strengthen our Reporting and Identify Further Areas of Improvement

Abstract

Abstract This paper goal is to present the reduction process of Eni’s methane emissions starting with the development of emission baseline, followed by identification of mitigation measures, and ensuring their implementation. Among Eni’s efforts to establish a robust emission baseline is its participation to OGMP 2.0 with the aim to improve the quality and accuracy of its methane emissions reporting. This paper provides a description of the pathway to achieve OGMP 2.0 gold standard, including an overview of the lessons learned and major outcomes. The pathway started with a materiality analysis of all Eni facilities. A portfolio analysis was performed for clustering all operated and jointly operated upstream facilities into "Assets" based on geography, facility type, and emission sources distribution. Among these, more than 20 Assets were selected for materiality purpose. The facilities within these assets have been analysed by a review of P&IDs, technical datasheets, operative conditions, etc. to determine the most representative emission sources (stationary combustion, flaring, fugitive, and venting) for each. As an output of the materiality analysis the process of identification of on-site direct measurements of emissions and/or specific engineering calculations has been worked out. The field measurement campaigns have been extensively implemented and safely and successfully completed in five months’ time. For the remaining ones where the onsite measurements were not possible, process simulations and engineering calculation have been performed. With the conclusion of the field campaigns and simulations, a detailed analysis and reporting of the results was performed allowing Eni to obtain accurate, site specific, and empirical methane emission factors for each material emission source. Moreover, the campaigns have also contributed to the identification of improvement opportunities and the paper will highlight key points of attention to tackle that could be of common applicability in O&G facilities.