Reducing methane losses across the gas value chain – Woodside journey to excellence
Jarrod Pittson A B and Allie Convery AA Woodside, Mia Yellagonga, 11 Mount Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: Jarrod.pittson@woodside.com.au
The APPEA Journal 60(2) 501-505 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ19234
Accepted: 17 March 2020 Published: 15 May 2020
Abstract
Woodside is the first, and, to date, only, Australian listed company to be a signatory to the Methane Guiding Principles, an industry, non-Government organisation and educational institution collaboration aimed at reducing methane emissions across the natural gas value chain. Woodside’s methane emissions are ~0.04% of our total hydrocarbon production, or 400 kt CO2-eq per annum (Woodside Energy 2019). This is a relatively small methane emission footprint in comparison with other industrial and oil and gas operators; however, to ensure the greenhouse gas and environmental benefits of LNG over coal and other greenhouse intensive fossil fuels remain legitimate and substantial, we recognise the important role of minimising methane losses through the natural gas value chain. The global-warming potential of methane is 86 times more potent over a 20-year time frame than that of carbon dioxide (IPCC 2014). By tackling methane emissions, significant inroads can be made in reducing the impacts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Woodside became a signatory to the Methane Guiding Principles in April 2018 and has commenced a program of work to deliver on the five principles, which are to (1) continually reduce methane emissions, (2) advance strong performance across gas value chains, (3) improve accuracy of methane emissions data, (4) advocate sound policy and regulations on methane emissions and (5) increase transparency. This paper will focus on the journey we are on, namely, understanding our methane emission footprint within our operational boundaries and setting in place an action plan to reduce these emissions. But it is also a lot broader as we start to look beyond our gates to the transport and distribution networks, through to the end user turning on their gas stove at home. It is about cradle to grave custody of our product for it to be a viable long-term solution in a lower-carbon economy.
Keywords: emissions reduction, global-warming potential, measurement uncertainty, methane guiding principles.
Jarrod Pittson is the Business Manager, Pluto, FPSOs & Wheatstone for Woodside Energy, based in Perth, Australia. Prior to this, he was General Manager Environment for Woodside. During his tenure in this position, he was responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership in environmental management and climate change across the Woodside value chain, including effective application of environmental standards and systems, delivery of environmental approvals and coordinating Woodside’s response to climate change. Jarrod has spent over 20 years in the environmental field, with a background in policy, pollution prevention, emissions reduction, environmental approvals and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining Woodside in 2006, Jarrod spent 12 years in downstream chemical production, where he held a variety of environmental roles. |
Allie Convery is a Climate Change Adviser for Woodside Energy, based in Perth, Australia. In this position, Allie is responsible for Woodside’s public greenhouse gas reporting and has been a key contributor to emissions improvement initiatives in operations, emissions data integrity and Woodside’s climate change policy advocacy and strategy. Allie has a background in climate change consultancy and upstream oil and gas operations. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources Law and Honours in Chemical Engineering. |
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