White Paper: The Case for Continuous Emissions Monitoring (CEM)

Best Practices for Continuous Emissions Monitoring in Upstream and Midstream Operations

Any serious long-term energy forecast includes a significant role for fossil fuels, especially natural gas.

The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) forecasts that natural gas will provide 22% of total world energy needs by 2050, down slightly from 24% in 2020. The agency attributes the reduction to the rapid increase of renewable energy sources. (Source: EIA)

Similarly, although the use of petroleum and other liquids are expected to decline modestly to 28% in 2050, down from 30% in 2020, it is still over one-quarter of total energy consumption.

Consequently, natural gas is a proven bridge fuel to a net-zero future and a sustainable global economy. Natural gas, however, has come under fire as a contributor to climate change because methane has proven to be 80 times more potent of a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, making it a prime target in the effort to mitigate climate change.

Reducing fugitive emissions of natural gas has become a focal point for leading upstream and midstream operators. In fact, the U.N. Global Methane Assessment found that “…the fossil fuel sector has the greatest potential for targeted mitigation by 2030.”

The same report identified the low hanging fruit of “targeted mitigation” is eliminating unintended fugitive emissions from oil and gas production systems.

Detecting, locating, quantifying and fixing leaks is a top priority for energy producers and transporters. Continuous emissions monitoring for methane and VOCs is essential for achieving environmental performance goals. (Source: UNEP)

In our white paper The Case for Continuous Emissions Monitoring we cover energy trends, the sources of methane leaks, the value of emissions monitoring solutions and why continuous emissions monitoring for methane is the best practice for upstream and midstream operators.