Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management: From Monitoring to Forest Climate Projects

Corporate environmental responsibility, especially in the oil and gas sector, is under close scrutiny by stakeholders. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management is not just a tribute to trends, but a necessity requiring a systematic approach, accurate accounting, and the implementation of modern technologies. During the webinar, Elena Sergeeva, a representative of the company's environmental department, shares years of practical experience in GHG emissions management, starting from basic accounting to the assessment of promising projects.

Key Performance Indicators and Digitalization of Accounting

The foundation of effective emissions management is a transparent accounting and reporting system. The speaker emphasizes the importance of setting specific KPIs: emissions intensity (tons of CO2 equivalent per ton of produced product), absolute indicators, and target reduction volumes. To ensure data reliability, the company regularly undergoes external verification of its accounting system for Scope 1 and Scope 2.

The accumulated data array required a transition to digital solutions. The implementation of a digital dashboard made it possible to visualize actual performance in real time. Every element of the system is clickable, allowing for detailed analysis of deviations and prompt management decisions.

Practical Solutions: From Leak Repair to CEMIS

The presentation details the experience of implementing two key practices:

• Methane Leak Detection and Repair. A comprehensive inspection of process equipment (fittings, valves, flanges) showed that the actual number of leaks is less than 1% of potential locations, and the mass of methane emissions is half the calculated figures. All identified leaks are promptly repaired or included in the maintenance plan.
• Emissions Management Information System (CEMIS). This is an analytical system that compares the actual performance of power equipment (e.g., gas turbine power plants and pumps) with the passport model. Deviations are highlighted, allowing personnel to adjust maintenance plans. The implementation of CEMIS on pumping equipment over 10 months reduced electricity consumption by 2.9 million kWh, equivalent to a reduction in indirect emissions of 1.3 thousand tons of CO2.

Assessment of Promising Projects: RES, CO2 Capture, and Forest Climate Initiatives

The speaker uses an example to show how the company analyzes the feasibility of introducing new technologies. An assessment was conducted for the construction of a wind power plant (WPP) with a capacity of up to 20 MW. The analysis showed that building a WPP on the field territory would be 15 – 20% more expensive than in regions with higher wind potential (e.g., the Ulyanovsk region), and the cost of electricity directly depends on the unit capacity of the installation.

The possibility of CO2 capture and storage was also explored. Despite the small volumes of its own emissions, the company assessed the potential for collecting GHG from neighboring emitters, selected purification and compression technologies, and geologists identified reservoirs for gas injection. A financial and economic model made it possible to estimate the cost of implementing such a project.

In addition, the company studied the potential of forest climate projects on the territory of its fields. Areas were selected for fire prevention measures and thinning, and the expected level of carbon sequestration was calculated in compliance with the principle of additionality.

Cooperation in Monitoring: Carbon Polygons

An important area of work was cooperation with the government of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug to expand the network for monitoring greenhouse gas fluxes from bog ecosystems. The company participates in creating an observation site on an untouched bog within its license area, purchasing the necessary equipment (CO2 and methane gas analyzers, weather sensors) for integration into the carbon polygon system.

What You Will Learn from This Webinar:

• How to build a KPI system for greenhouse gas emissions management?
• Why actual methane emissions from fugitive sources can be half the calculated figures?
• How does the CEMIS information system help reduce indirect emissions and save electricity?
• What factors affect the profitability of building wind power plants in oilfields?
• How to assess the potential of forest climate projects and CO2 capture projects?