For the Third Year in a Row Oil and Gas Emissions Fall
Saskatchewan’s oil and gas industry has made significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by taking measures to minimize venting and flaring. The province witnessed a substantial decrease in emissions from venting and flaring at upstream oil facilities in 2022, reaching 3.9 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e). This reduction is an impressive 64 percent below the 2015 levels, amounting to 7.0 Mt CO2e.
Acknowledging the industry’s efforts, Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter expressed gratitude to companies for investing in combustion equipment to replace venting and protect the environment. Although this transition involves significant costs, the industry’s commitment to mitigating emissions is commendable.
The decline in emissions can be attributed to two primary factors: the shift from venting to flaring and the repurposing of produced gas for energy generation. Flaring gas reduces the methane content and releases carbon dioxide instead. Additionally, companies have increasingly repurposed produced gas to power equipment on-site, further curbing emissions. The expansion of gas collection infrastructure in Saskatchewan has also contributed to capturing more vented and flared gas in 2022.
Comparing the figures to the previous year, venting and flaring emissions experienced reductions of 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively. This demonstrates the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement and its determination to make further strides in reducing GHG emissions.
Saskatchewan’s Oil and Gas Emissions Management Regulations, implemented in 2019, have played a crucial role in driving emissions reduction. These regulations set limits on emissions for the upstream oil and gas sector, targeting a 40 to 45 percent decrease by 2025 compared to 2015 levels. The encouraging results from 2022 highlight Saskatchewan’s regulatory leadership and the innovative approaches embraced by the oil and gas sector to combat GHG emissions across the province.
Read the full report at https://publications.saskatchewan.ca:443/api/v1/products/121441/formats/140591/download.
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