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Biden announces tighter methane

rule for US oil and gas industry

THE Biden administration has unveiled a pro- meet a goal set by a US-led group of more than
POLICY posed tighter methane rule for the oil and gas 100 countries to cut methane emissions by 30%
sector as the US races to cut GHG emissions. by 2030 compared with 2020 levels.
Methane, the major component of natural gas “I can ... say with confidence, the United
and which can leak from pipelines, is an espe- States of America will meet our emissions tar-
cially potent greenhouse gas (GHG). gets by 2030,” he told delegates, negotiators and
President Joe Biden, speaking at the COP27 national leaders at the conference in Sharm
climate summit in Egypt, announced the pro- El-Sheikh.
posed supplemental rule for methane along with “We must lead by example when it comes to
other emissions standards. According to the new tackling methane pollution – one of the biggest
rule, the federal government will require oil and drivers of climate change,” said the EPA’s Admin-
gas producers to detect and fix methane leaks at istrator, Michael Regan, also at COP27. The new,
all sites, including at smaller existing sites that more aggressive standards “will enable innova-
emit less than 2.72 tonnes per year (tpy) of the tive new technology to flourish while protecting
gas. people and the planet,” he added.
The new methane regulation would add to a The rules would ensure that all well sites are
rule announced last year at the UN COP26 in routinely monitored for leaks at less cost, and
Glasgow in 2021 targeting emissions from exist- until they are closed properly. They would also
ing oil and gas wells, rather than only new wells offer industry flexibility to use innovative and
as was the case in previous EPA regulations. New cost-effective methane detection technologies,
wells had routinely been checked but were rarely and a streamlined process for approving new
reassessed. detection methods as they become available.
The methane proposal also requires opera- The rules would leverage data from remote sens-
tors to respond to “credible” third-party reports ing technology to quickly identify and fix large
of high-volume methane leaks, says a press methane leaks. They would require that flares
release by the US Environmental Protection are properly operated to reduce emissions, and
Agency (EPA). This is called the Super-Emitter revise requirements for associated gas flaring.
Response Programme. They would also establish emission standards for
The new methane rule would eliminate 36mn dry seal compressors, which are currently unreg-
tonnes of methane emissions from oil and gas ulated. Additionally, they would set a zero-emis-
operations by 2035, said EPA. Oil and natural sions standard for pneumatic controllers and
gas operations are the nation’s largest industrial pneumatic pumps at affected facilities in all seg-
source of methane. ments of the industry. And they would increase
“If finalised, these critical, common-sense recovery of natural gas that otherwise would go
standards will protect workers and communi- to waste – enough gas from 2023 to 2035 to heat
ties, maintain and create high-quality, union- an estimated 3.5mn homes for the winter.
friendly jobs, and promote US innovation and The American Petroleum Institute (API) said
manufacturing of critical new technologies, all it would work with EPA to ensure the final rule is
while delivering significant economic benefits cost-effective, promotes innovation and creates
through increased recovery of wasted gas,” said the regulatory certainty needed for long-term
EPA. planning.
“Sharp cuts in methane emissions are among “Our industry is taking action, and as a result,
the most critical actions the US can take in the methane emissions relative to production fell
short term to slow the rate of climate change,” 60% from 2011 to 2020,” said the API’s senior
EPA added. vice president of Policy, Economics and Regula-
Biden also said the new rule will help the US tory Affairs, Frank Macchiarola.™

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 47 24•November•2022