Methane Emissions from Three Canadian Oil and Natural Gas Developments

The oil and gas industry is Canadas largest contributor to national methane (CH4) emissions. In order to quantify differences between producing regions, we conducted truck-based mobile CH4 surveys, stationary measurements (OTM33A), and optical gas imaging in Canadas Heavy Oil Capital Lloydminster in Saskatchewan, and also in understudied regions including Kindersley and Swift Current. Atmospheric CH4 measurements were collected using an LGR UGGA and emission rate estimates were derived using inverse Gaussian plume modelling. Measured mean CH4 emissions of actively producing oil and gas infrastructure in Lloydminster were at least 50% lower (8415 m/day) than found in previous studies, and lower than reported emissions in 2020 (955 m/day) potentially because of a pandemic-related decline in oil production in the region. In contrast, measured emissions in Kindersley (18846 m/day) and Swift Current (399246 m/day) tended to be higher than reported emissions. In these regions production levels were normal, and larger emissions originated mainly from tank vents and unlit flares. Based on OTM33A measurements, we found that unlit flares contributed roughly three times more to mean CH4 emissions than venting tanks. We also found that suspended and abandoned (both inactive) oil and gas sites accounted for roughly 45% of total measured CH4 emissions in Lloydminster, 14% in Kindersley and 0% in Swift Current. These findings help the provincial and federal governments to further improve regulations on the road to net-zero emissions.