Abstract
This article aim to present the technology for detection and quantification of fugitive gas emissions in deep offshore activities of TOTAL E&P Angola (hereafter mentioned as "Company").
Company has been operating in Angola for more than 60 years, totally committed to the environmental sustainability through full compliance to the local regulation, Company standards, and best oilfield environmental practices.
Fugitive emissions represent a general set of emission from industrial sources that cannot be connected through controlled means to a definitive emission point. These normally and relatively small and hard-to- detect emissions from valve packing, pump seal, compressor seals and piping connections occur as part of normal industrial operations. They are characterized by a diffused release of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds: methane, ethane, methanol, etc) or other pollutants into the atmosphere.
Methane’s global warming potential is higher than carbon dioxide. Methane emissions in Company’s operated scope stood at 2.3 Mt CO2-eq in 2015 and nearly half or 1.1 Mt CO2-eq were specifically related to gas production. In all, they account for less than 0.5% of Company’s marketed operated production; therefore improving methane measurement and mitigating these emissions are part of climate change strategy of the Company.
Reducing oil and gas methane emissions is an essential, low-cost strategy for slowing the accelerated pace of today’s Global Warming. It is a major opportunity for climate progress that cannot be missed. This is why all efforts were centered to join the Climate and Clean air Coalition (CCAC) Oil & Gas Methane Partnership, important step to understand the scope of the company methane emissions. The CCAC Partnership provides companies with a credible mechanism to systematically address their methane emissions and demonstrate this systematic approach to stakeholders.
