SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – Methane

Introductory methane kickoff plus the four official methane eSessions.

Overview

As a dispatchable energy source with lower carbon emissions than other fossil fuels, natural gas can play an important role in the energy transition and future energy mix, if methane emissions across the gas value chain are controlled.

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas contributing to approximately 15% of human induced climate change. Agriculture, fossil fuel and the waste sectors are among the highest emitters of anthropogenic methane emissions.

Deep reductions in methane emissions must be achieved if we are to achieve the Paris Agreement target of keeping global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and as close to 1.5 degrees Celsius as possible. As methane’s atmospheric lifespan is relatively short – 10 to 12 years – actions to reduce methane emissions can rapidly contribute to climate change mitigation strategies.

In the first half of 2021, SPE Gaia, in collaboration with OGCI, IPIECA and IOGP held a series of four webinars to explore leading oil and gas organizations’ efforts to reduce methane emissions. The topics covered included:

  • Detection and quantification methods
  • Emerging technology and investment
  • Policy and industry action
  • Satellite measurement
Climate Series Kickoff
Introduction to the Methane Challenge
Overview and problem setting
Methane 18 Jun 2020

Introduction to the Methane Challenge: overview and problem setting

Speakers: Trey Shaffer, Time Gould, Julien Perez, Prof Allen, Darcy Spady

The opening climate-series session established why methane matters for near-term warming, set the oil and gas context, and framed the broader program around mitigation practice, policy, and emerging detection and measurement approaches.

Methane webinar 1
Methane #1 17 Feb 2021

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – Methane | #1 | Detection & Quantification in a Rapidly Evolving Landscape

Speakers: Steve Hamburg, Peter Evans, Arvind Ravikumar, Adam Brandt, Vanessa Ryan

Detecting and quantifying methane emissions are critical to lowering oil and gas industry emissions. This webinar highlights the difference between detection and quantification programmes, putting an emphasis on standardised testing of technologies, outlining existing and under-development best practices and standards.

Methane webinar 2
Methane #2 31 Mar 2021

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – Methane | #2 | Technology and Investment Focus

Speakers: Steve Deiker, Daniel Palmer, Iain Cooper, Daniel Zimmerle, James Mackey

The private sector has a considerable role to play in supporting the development, testing and deployment of methane detection, measurement and mitigation technologies. This webinar reviews current and emerging methane emission reduction technologies, concluding with a panel discussion on the role of finance in scaling up technological solutions.

Methane webinar 3
Methane #3 12 May 2021

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – Methane | #3 | Policy Focus and Industry Action

Speakers: Darcy Spady, Robert Kleinberg, Manfred Caltagirone, Bill Kovach, Beatrix Wieczorek, Matthew Todd, Julien Perez

Tackling methane emissions across the full gas value chain requires international cooperation among industries, governments, civil society and non-governmental organizations. This webinar introduces the policy context and voluntary efforts from the O&G industry to reduce methane emissions, including UNEP’s OGMP2.0 reporting framework.

Methane webinar 4
Methane #4 16 Jun 2021

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – Methane | #4 | Satellite Measurements Data in Support to Detection and Quantification of CH4 Emissions

Speakers: Stephanie Saunier, Ilse Aben, Stephane Germain, Steven Hamburg, Eric Kort, Antoine Rostand

In recent years great strides have been made in satellite detection of methane emissions. There are now a variety of satellites with different methane sensors and detection capabilities in orbit and several more planned in coming years. This webinar brings together an expert panel working in this field to discuss the impact satellites can have on the rapid mitigation of methane emissions.

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – CCS

First CCS series from 2022–2023.

Overview

According to the IPCC WGIII report, net-zero CO2 energy systems, will require: “a substantial reduction in overall fossil fuel use, minimal use of unabated fossil fuels, and use of CCS in the remaining fossil system”. (Reference: IPCC AR6 SPM p.36)

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one of the key technologies that could enable a low-carbon energy transition. CCS encompasses an integrated suite of technologies that can prevent large quantities of CO2 from being released in the atmosphere from the use of fossil fuels. It is a proven technology and has been in safe, commercial operation for 45 years. (Reference: GCCSI)

Between 2022 and 2023, SPE Gaia, IOGP, OGCI and Ipieca have collaborated on a webinar series sharing knowledge and good practice around the scaling up of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, including key issues, environmental responsibility, financial incentives, policy, and liability concerns. The topics covered included:

  • Carbon Takeback Obligations - an opportunity to accelerate deployment of carbon capture and storage
  • Technological solutions for negative emissions and CO2 removal, an essential tool to limit global warming and protect the planet?
CCS webinar 1
CCS #1 02 May 2022

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – CCS | #1 | Carbon Takeback Obligations - An Opportunity to Accelerate Deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage

Speakers: Professor Myles Allen, Margriet Kuiyper, Martin Towns, Arthur Lee

Carbon Takeback Obligation (CTBO) is a policy concept, where there would be a requirement that all fossil fuels extracted or imported into a region, nation or group of nations, be offset by storing, back underground, an amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to that generated by that fuel. The link between Article 6 and a CTBO can also create tangible and predictable demand for carbon storage units and unlock a flow of funds to build storage capacity.

CCS webinar 2
CCS #2 13 Jul 2022

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – CCS | #2 | Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) - An Overview

Speakers: Jasmin Kemper, Helen Bray, Eadbhard Pernot

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth assessment working group III report highlights that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and negative emissions technologies, such as bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air capture (DAC), will have an important role to play in reaching ambitious net-zero targets, but costs will need to come down for them to be commercially viable.

CCS webinar 3
CCS #3 01 Nov 2022

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – CCS | #3 | CCUS Key Challenges: Learnings From The Midwest Regional Carbon Initiative

Speakers: Sallie Greenberg, Arthur Lee

The Midwest Regional Carbon Initiative (MRCI) is a broad coalition of partners from research, academia, industry, NGOs, and the US government dedicated to the study, acceleration, acceptance, and deployment of commercial carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in the United States. The MRCI provides a solid foundation for future work by addressing key technical challenges, obtaining, and sharing data to support CCUS, facilitating regional infrastructure planning, and performing regional technology transfer.

CCS webinar 4
CCS #4 01 Feb 2023

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – CCS | #4 | The Role of CCUS for Industries to Reach Net Zero Emissions

Speakers: Nirvasen Moonsamy, Andy Purvis, Philip de Smedt, Rick Bohan, Arthur Lee

A portfolio of technologies and approaches is needed to address the decarbonisation challenge while supporting sustainable and competitive industries. Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) can play a critical role in this sustainable transformation and is believed to be one method that can mitigate to scale large stationary sources of CO2 emissions that are historically difficult to manage.

CCS webinar 5
CCS #5 01 Oct 2023

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – CCS | #5 | Accelerating CCUS Uptake Through Development in Clusters and Hubs

Speakers: Iain Macdonald, Aslak Hellestø, Arthur Lee

CCUS clusters and their associated hubs are essential to secure the future of emissions intensive industries. A CCUS cluster network brings together multiple carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters and/or multiple storage locations using shared transportation infrastructure. Areas where there is both a high concentration of CO2 emitting industries and a nearby capacity to store emissions are considered prime sites for cluster developments.

SPE Gaia / OGCI / IPIECA / IOGP Climate Series eSessions – CCS2

Second CCS-oriented series focused on the project journey and scaling themes.

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