Methane is one of the main greenhouse gasses arising from typical Upstream operations, along with CO2 and N2O, to allow comparison and homogeneous aggregation of all GHG emissions.
Eni has issued a dedicated Operating instruction for the Management and Accounting of Methane Emissions in Upstream Oil & Gas Activities. The objective of this operating instruction is to define the methodology and tools for Eni Upstream subsidiaries for an efficient management, monitoring and accounting of methane emissions sources.
In this paper we illustrate the methodology for methane emissions monitoring and accounting relevant to fugitive, venting, flaring, and stationary combustion emissions. We shall also present a case study focused on fugitive and venting emissions where in 2020 a Fugitive Methane Emissions Monitoring Campaign was carried out in Zohr Plant by means of optical gas imaging (IR thermocamera) technique. Fugitive emissions were quantified and also, methane emissions due to operational venting were evaluated.
The outcomes of the monitoring campaign together with the immediate actions taken at site thereafter resulted in a reduction of methane emissions and confirms that Zohr will remain a successful story, not only from time to market and production point of view, but also from an environmental viewpoint. This campaign confirms Eni's role in reducing methane emission through collaboration between engineering and maintenance teams.
Methane is one of the main greenhouse gasses arising from typical Upstream operations, along with CO2 and N2O, which are accounted in terms of equivalent CO2(CO2eq) to allow comparison and homogeneous aggregation of all GHG emissions. The conversion parameter is the Global Warming Potential(GWP), periodically updated by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): in the short term (20 years), methane has a GWP 84 times greater than CO2. Over a longer timeframe (100 years),the potential reduces to around 28. However, Eni in line with international reporting standards, currently adopts GWP = 25.
