Page 8 - LatAmOil Week 37 2022
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LatAmOil                                          MEXICO                                            LatAmOil



                         The Mexican company also quibbled with this   claims make no sense for a number of reasons,
                         number on other grounds, calling it a compos-  and it should be no problem to show that,” they
                         ite figure that included other types of emissions   wrote to the news agency.
                         such as nitrogen, which has no deleterious envi-  Since the publications of the article in June,
                         ronmental effects. “The images captured by   the research team has gathered evidence of more
                         the satellites referred to in the Environmental   leaks at Ku-Maloob-Zaap. Earlier this month,
                         Science & Technology Letters article were con-  Irakulis-Loitxate said ESA satellites had taken
                         sidered, incorrectly and unprofessionally, to be   images of a methane “ultra-emission” event that
                         entirely methane gas emissions,” it declared.  had occurred on six separate days in August
                           The NOC’s assertions have drawn a sceptical   2022.
                         response from the Spanish research team, which   Methane is often flared off during oil produc-
                         is headed by Itziar Irakulis-Loitxate. Members of   tion operations to minimise harmful impact. It
                         the team indicated last week that they stood by   is a key driver of climate change, as it is much
                         their findings, telling Reuters that they intended   more powerful at trapping heat than carbon
                         to explain their findings in greater detail.  dioxide. However, it only lasts in the atmosphere
                           “For the time being, we can say that Pemex   for around a decade. ™



                                                TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
       PM says Trinidad and Tobago should have



       more say over gas development strategy






                         KEITH Rowley, the prime minister of Trinidad   problem is that it has limited influence over
                         and Tobago, has said he wants his country’s gov-  the gas industry. The government’s options for
                         ernment to have a greater say in decisions about   meeting challenges are constrained, since it is
                         exploration, production and development strat-  not itself a producer of gas and must leave deci-
                         egies in the natural gas sector.     sions about production to the operators of the
                           Speaking after a meeting with representatives   gas fields, he explained.
                         of BP (UK), Shell (UK) and Proman (Switzer-  The prime minister suggested that this policy
                         land), which are among the biggest investors   would have to change in the long term. Trinidad
                         in Trinidad and Tobago’s gas industry, Rowley   and Tobago should have a say in decisions about
                         noted that the island state was currently pro-  gas exploration, production and development
                         ducing around 2.9bn cubic feet (82.12mn cubic   and not leave the matter in the hands of other
                         metres) per day of gas. Data compiled by Port   parties, he declared. If it does not, it may face
                         of Spain show that the country should be able   even steeper hurdles in the future, he said. ™
                         to maintain output at this level for another few
                         years, he stated.
                           He stressed, though, that the gas sector was
                         facing significant challenges. Output levels have
                         dropped from a peak of 4.2 bcf (118.9 mcm) per
                         day, as the country’s largest fields have matured
                         and no new discoveries have been made, he
                         noted. Under these conditions, yields are likely
                         to start declining in the second half of the dec-
                         ade, he said.
                           Declining gas output would, in turn, have a
                         negative impact on public finances and stand-
                         ards of living, he added. “[If] we do not make
                         decisions ... the diagram shows that by 2026,
                         2027, 2028, the levels of gas that will be available
                         in Trinidad and Tobago – if no new improve-
                         ments are [made] – will have far-reaching con-
                         sequences for government revenues and, I dare
                         say, for the quality of life of all the people of Trin-
                         idad and Tobago,” he was quoted as saying by
                         OilNOW.gy.
                           According to Rowley, one of the reasons why
                         Trinidad and Tobago has found itself facing this   Rowley reports on his meeting with energy company executives (Photo: OPM.gov.tt)



       P8                                       www. NEWSBASE .com                      Week 37   14•September•2022
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