Methane is a common gas found in production areas of the oil and gas industry. While oil and gas companies go to great lengths to contain methane and responsibly neutralize it, some methane still escapes. This methane is referred to as fugitive methane, and left unchecked, it can cause big problems for the environment.
Fugitive methane often comes from things like leaks in pipes and oil and gas processing equipment. Additionally, fugitive methane may escape when containment protocols aren’t followed to the letter. For these reasons, professionals in the oil and gas industry must monitor conditions closely, respond to alerts at once and follow procedures at all times.
How Do Oil and Gas Companies Stop Fugitive Methane?
Upstream oil and gas software can be used to catch methane leaks, and oil and gas companies typically use an array of sensors in conjunction with technology tools. Upstream oil and gas software may be able to connect with mitigation equipment to automatically respond to emergency leaks of methane, but this depends on the specific setup of the oil and gas producer. Find the best upstream oil and gas software by visiting this website.
Although taking preventative and proactive measures is considered best, oil and gas companies can also take part in carbon credit programs to mitigate the effects fugitive methane has on the environment. These are credits that are purchased for emissions released within a given period. The money generated from the sale of carbon credits is used to offset harm to the environment through positive environmental actions.
Measuring and Reporting Are Imperative
Oil and gas companies must measure and report methane and other gas emissions if they want to provide a sustainable future. Most companies have programs and equipment in place to handle this aspect of oil and gas production, and the industry does a good job of policing oil and gas producers.
Still, the potential exists for methane to escape the production process, so more work still needs to be done. It may not be possible to eliminate all methane escaped in the oil and gas industry, but by engaging in regular monitoring and reporting, producers stand a better chance of catching fugitive methane before it harms the environment.
Read a similar article about IoT in oil and gas here at this page.
