BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
In 2020, Equinor had routine flaring in the Bakken shale asset in the US due to challenges related to gas infrastructure, Trend reports citing the company.
Production in this area exceeded the midstream pipeline capacity, resulting in excess gas being sent to flare rather than to sales. Measures to reduce flaring, resulted in a reduction of total flaring from 15 percent in 2019 to 9 percent in 2020.
Our 2020 flaring intensity (upstream, operated) was 1.7 tonnes/1000 tonnes of hydrocarbon produced, or 0.17 percent. This is significantly lower than the industry average of 1.1 percent, and in line with expectations. “We achieved the target of limiting upstream flaring intensity to 0.2% by 2020 for our operated assets. This target was set in 2012 as part of our commitment to the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.”
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas contributing to climate change following carbon dioxide.
Equinor’s 2020 methane intensity for our upstream and midstream business remained low at approximately 0.03 percent, which is around 1/10 of the industry average. Equinor continues to pursue a methane intensity target of near zero.
“We have significantly improved how methane emissions in our own operations are quantified and reported. We will continue to develop and implement technologies and procedures to detect and reduce methane emissions, support industry efforts to reduce methane emissions across the oil and gas value chain, increase the quality and transparency of reported data, and support the development of sound methane policies and regulations,” the company said.
During 2020, the business areas implemented several emission reductions measures, including better energy management, improved technical design, electrification and efforts to minimise methane emissions and flaring. Equinor’s total GHG scope 1 and scope 2 emissions decreased with 1.4 million tonnes, aligned with its ambitions.
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